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John Murray's Landfal 



A Romance 
And a Foregleam 



Pearly morn and fervid noon, 
Raining diamonds on the sea, 
Evening rapt in mystery, 

Tender light of star, of moon: 

Author of " Christus Victor," " Mystery of the West," etc. 

So the wonders of the deep 

Sank into my very soul ; 

Strove to make the heart-break whole, 
As my spirit lay asleep. 



G. P. Putnam's Sons 

New York and London 

(Tbe fcntcfterbocfcer fttese 

1911 



tttooa bbrtsl bins mom y^B9^ 
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John Murray's Landfall 

A Romance 
And a Foregleam 

By 

Henry Nehemiah Dodge 

Author of " Christus Victor," " Mystery of the West," etc. 
Illustrated 



G. P. Putnam's Sons 

New York and London 

Gbe IKnfcfterbocfcer press 

1911 



.fi 






n 



Copyright, 1911 

BY 

HENRY NEHEMIAH DODGE 



Ube •fcnfcfterbocfeer Press, mew ©orft 



©CI..A283998 



" Man is of heavenly extraction, is in his nature allied to the 
heavenly state in which he was created before he was formed 
of the dust of the earth. . . . Were the earth with all her 
vines and fruits my own this moment, on condition that I 
should give up the riches which I see in this heavenly relation, 
my bargain would make me poor." 

Hosea Ballou. 

"He that toucheth humanity toucheth the apple of God's 
eye." 

"God knew how much the gift of life would cost us. He did 
not give it frivolously and carelessly. He gave it because of 
the magnificent results that He purposes from it." 

Basil Wilberforce. 

"In the past days religion sang of a ruined race and a 
world under the Divine wrath and curse. Cannot we set to 
music the ideal of a rising humanity and the good news of a 
world under God's love and blessing ?" 

John Hunter. 



iii 



NOTE 

IN John Murray's Landfall the poet has sung 
the romance of a rare soul in the shaping for 
a mighty work : flamed upon in the forge of God 
by the fires of love, of death, of religious passion, 
bruised by the scorn of men, overwhelmed by 
despair, and, finally, startled into new life by the 
commanding faith of a lowly seeker after Truth. 
Among the forces that are slowly but irresis- 
tibly re-moulding the ideals of mankind — re- 
ligious, political, and social — first • and most 
powerful is the conception of the Fatherhood 
of God and the Brotherhood of Man. This su- 
preme vision, at best but dimly seen, is waking 
new life in the churches of Christendom and 
kindling new hopes in the nations and kindreds 
of the earth. Nor has our civilization seen a 
greater epoch, since the advent of Christ, than 
that born of this conception of the divine origin 



vi mote 

and destiny of man, the essential oneness of the 
race and its inseverable union with God, and 
marked by the event which gives name to this 
poem. Sprung from Him who taught us to 
say "Our Father" and "Our Brother," it has 
in this age burst into more glorious bloom, rich 
with promise of abundant fruit. 

It is fitting, therefore, that we who behold with 
wonder the flowering of this world-embracing 
truth should recall with gratitude the planting 
of the precious seed, in the dawn of our country's 
history, by one through whose labors and foster- 
ing care it here first in the history of the world 
took on the form of organized life. 

Closely identified with the great religious 
movements of the close of the eighteenth century, 
broken-hearted by his excommunication from 
the church and by domestic affliction, John 
Murray fled from England in the year 1770, that 
he might bury his grief in the wilderness of the 
New World. Driven by stress of weather upon 
the Jersey coast, near the little hamlet known as 
Good Luck, he was astounded at the warm 
welcome of Thomas Potter, who, with his own 



Wote vii 

hands, had built him a meeting-house and was 
waiting for "the preacher whom God would 
send." 

How this fisherman-farmer, this heroic man of 
faith, arrested the flight of the fugitive, insisting 
that he deliver the message intrusted to him, 
and what came of it, is quaintly told in John 
Murray's autobiography. 

However strange, to our way of thinking, and 
even fanciful may seem his theology, one cannot 
fail to be inspired by the majesty of his vision of 
humanity united and complete; — magnificent 
apocalypse! — his attempt to express in finite 
terms the infinite grandeur and tenderness of 
Redeeming Love. 

The sudden metamorphosis at Good Luck of 
a discouraged man, fleeing from his past and 
his kind, into a heroic and unswerving apostle 
of the World-Saviour; who feared neither tribu- 
lation nor the face of man; who, unaided and 
alone, traversed the Colonies from city to city, 
from hamlet to hamlet, back and forth from 
Maryland to New Hampshire, through storm and 
cold, on horseback and afloat, without money 



viii IftOte 

in his purse, excepting as the Lord in whom he 
trusted raised up friends to help him on his way ; 
refusing all offers of a settled home for ten long 
years; witnessing to both small and great in 
crowded assemblies, by the hearth and by the 
campfires of the Revolution — it was this mighty 
change which constituted the wonder and the 
glory of John Murray's life. 

The romantic story has long appealed to many 
hearts on account of its simple beauty, its 
human interest, and its epic significance. 

Trodden under foot of men, born of desolation, 
a flower of Paradise is cradled amid snow and 
ice. Anon the arbute wakes, each lovely petal 
radiant with joy. Breathing upon the winds of 
heaven: love never faileth, the wondrous 
flower is pushing back the winter gloom and 
filling the earth with its fragrance. 

H. N. D. 





PRELUDE 

Who hath haste let him pass on — perchance he 

qnesteth dross, 
To find, when he the goal hath won, but emptiness 

and loss. 

For such my numbers and my rime are naught. 

For him my song 
Who dreameth dreams of bygone time, of spirits 

pure and strong; 

Who dreameth dreams of golden Day beyond the 

verge of Night, 
When man shall tread a fairer way, rejoicing in 

the light; 

When man, of royal pedigree, his birthright shall 

attain; 
When Man — stupendous mystery! — with God 

enthroned shall reign. 
ix 



x lprelu&e 

Eager, my harp, thy pulses leap, urged by the 

mighty theme; 
With flowing chords the rapture sweep adown the 

rushing stream! 

The ages vast thy bosom thrill, along thy strings 

they gleam; 
Sing: Love Divine to man goodwill! — the burden of 

my dream. 

Thy tuneful strings in full accord the burden oft 

repeat; 
Sing: Love, and Love alone is Lord, and hail His 

glowing feet! 




VENI, DOMINE JESU 

nTHOU that sowest world-wide harvest, Reaper 
" of Nations — 
Life from death, light from darkness, and love 

from hatred — 
Mighty World-Saviour, summon this people 
unto Thy sowing! 

Sons of heroic ancestry, heirs of an heritage 

peerless, 
Heirs of Love's wider evangel, whose joy the 

Church is awakening ; 
Heirs of light whose glory is filling the earth and 

heavens, 
Help us to shake off the lethargy that in long 

slumber hath bound us; 
Help us to gird our loins to serve Thee, as once 

did the Fathers 



xii Vcni, Bomfne $esu 

Whose high faith I celebrate, as Thou in old 
time didst lead them! 

Thou who in darkness showed to Thy servants 
foregleams of dayspring, 

Show me the noontide of glory oncoming — show 
me Thy fulness ! 

May I be not disobedient unto the heavenly 
vision ; 

Give me the voice of a silver trumpet, attuned 
to Thy sweetness; 

Breathe on mine eyelids, breathe on my dream- 
ing, gracious World-Saviour! 




INDEX OF RUNNING TITLES 



Book One 



Note .... 

Prelude .... 

Veni, Domine Jesu . 

Extract .... 

Ebb and Flow of the Tides 

A River the Streams Whereof Make 

Friends 

In the Garden . 

Tears 

Love is Calling 

The Singers 

The Awakening 

Priest and Prelate 

The Bee Garners Honey 

For Justice 

Hatred's Envious Tongue 

The Fledgeling Spreads His Wings. 

Driven of the Spirit 

Son, Go Forth .... 

Land of My Dreams . 



Glad 



v 
ix 
xi 
2 
3 
15 
23 
29 

3i 

33 
35 
37 
39 
45 
47 
49 
5i 
53 
59 
61 



•ffnOej of •Running Cities 



Seeing Life 

Bow Bells 

Swept Free of Chaff 

Eliza .... 

All for Love . 

My Love Is Mine 

On Moorsfield 

Leaves from an Old Journal 

Hail, Prophetess 

Christ the Apple-Tree 

Union. .... 

A Floweret Sweet . 

John Murray's Defence . 

The Shadows Fall . 

In the Wine-Press Alone 

In Bonds .... 

England, Farewell . 

Forbear, Ye Winds . 

A Threnody 

Deep Calleth unto Deep 



PAGE 

65 

69 

7i 

73 

79 

85 

9i 

93 

95 

99 

101 

103 

105 

115 

117 

121 

123 

126 

128 

130 



Book Two 



Ave, Patres . 139 

The Anticipation 140 

The Recognition . . . . . . 153 

The Wind Never will Change . . . .155 

Winds of Orient . . . . .156 



UnDer. of Running titles 



The Summons .... 
The Vision .... 
Voices of the Heavenly Host . 
Joy in Heaven. .... 
Forth from Pavilions of Darkness 
Birthday of Love's New Evangel 
In Potter's Meeting-House 
Murray's Sermon. 
Then They Sang a Hymn . 
A Wreath for Tribute 



PAGE 
158 
159 
186 
I87 
197 
199 
20O 
203 
213 
216 




Book One 



11 To view God as our Father, and all mankind as our 
brethren, and to believe our everlasting Father will never 
act inconsistent with this endearing character, ... to 
trust in God at all times, not being afraid; to come up 
from this wilderness leaning on the Beloved — in one word, 
to cast all our care upon Him, for ourselves and for others, 
for time and for eternity, is to glorify God -in our spirit." 

" Is it not pleasant to walk in the light, to be delivered 
from fear, to behold the Creator of your frame, the 
Redeemer of your spirit, as a tender, kind, compassionate 
Father; to be able to look death in the face with com- 
posure, to have the heart fixed, constantly trusting in 
God? " 

"He who said to the evil spirit, Come out of him, in one 
instance, can, with as much ease and equal success, sep- 
arate the evil spirit from every individual of the human 
family; and what He can do, He will do. ,f 

" O, boundless theme! O, unfathomable depth! O, 
glorious day." 

John Murray 



■ 



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John Murray's Landfall 



A ROMANCE AND A FOREGLEAM 



A GE-LONG the billows roll their tides o'er 
** tempestuous ocean : 
So in the life of the world still flow the tides of 

the Spirit, 
Unto the dim-seen goal of destiny surging 

majestic, 
Moving the restless heart of man with infinite 

longing. 

When in myriad souls is heard the mysterious 

whisper, 
Soft swells the tide, more deep, more vast, till 

the sea in commotion 



4 3obn /Iburrag'g Xanfcfall 

Hurls its might resistless, from zone to zone 

on-sweeping — 
Mighty pulsation of impulse flowing from God 

to His children. 
Borne on the towering crest, some leader of 

men for a moment 
Guides the advancing flood. Anon he is gone, 

and another 
Rises from infinite depths, unfathomed abysses 

of ocean. 



Out of the strife and the turmoil, oppression and 

murk of the glooming ; 
Out of the chaos and darkness of long mediaeval 

confusion, 
Out of the waters seething with flotsam of glory 

departed — 
Civilization awaiting rebirth from the womb 

of the ages — 
Uprose the cry of Freedom; humanity bruised 

and despairing; 
Rome's red hand on the spirit of man had 

welded her fetters. 



36bb and Jflow of tbe aides 5 

Muttered thunders of Wittenberg; far gleamed 

the lightnings of Leyden — 
Rose John Calvin with voice of command 

Jehovah proclaiming 
Ruler of men and nations, of all things Author, 

Disposer ; 
Unto the Lord of Hosts demanding allegiance 

from all men. 

Vast the response ! From the shores of Geneva 
the Alps heard the challenge, 

Clear from their fastnesses echoed, exulting, 
their anthem of freedom 

Unto the waking Lowlands ; nerving the Hugue- 
not exile; 

Puritan England arousing to shake off the grip 
of the Stuart — 

Tyranny hateful in Church, in State by her 
yeomanry smitten. 

Buffeted long on tempestuous seas fled west- 
ward the Pilgrim, 

Wrote the immortal compact, sealed in the May- 
flower's cabin, 



6 Jobn /fturras's XanOfall 

Whereon rest our liberties, world's hope, rule 

of the people — 
Planted precious seed in the fertile soil of the 

New World. 
Woke there from sleep to larger vision the mind 

of the people, 
Stunted, starved so long in the prison-house 

where it had languished. 



They sing unto Jehovah, to whom all glory be, 
Whose chariot is the tempest, whose triumph-way 

the sea. 
In Him alone confiding, they face with courage 

high 
The elemental fury engulfing sea and sky. 



The Lord of Hosts their Keeper, what peril may 

they fear 
Of sudden foe or tempest or phantom lurking near ? 
Lost in the unknown vastness, through storm and 

mystery 
Their valiant keel is flying in quest of Liberty : 



jSbb anD aflow of tbe atfces 7 

These waged a valiant warfare, and we inherit 

their labors — 
Tyrants enthroned they defied; deposed they 

the ghostly oppressor; 
Freedom they gave to manhood, by privilege 

long imprisoned, 
But, as if tear-dimmed eyes to shield from 

glory too dazzling, 
Crowned they on Heaven's exalted throne a 

Despot Almighty, 
Who, that His pitiless counsel might stand, for 

His pleasure and glory, 
Hosts untold would consign to unspeakable 

anguish of burning, 
Reprobate by His decree before they were ever 

created ; 
Prey of the worm, of remorse undying through 

infinite cycles; 
Hope engulfed in ruin ; nor goal for their long- 
ing, no respite; 
Blackness of night eternal, naught after, no 

to-morrow ; 
Never one gleam of dawn athwart the abyss of 

their torment! 



8 3obn /Rump's Xanfcfall 

(Jealous the Fateful Sisters glower askance on 
Jehovah !) 



Ah, how many a heart hath this cruel phantom 

affrighted ! 
Yet from the clouds and darkness gleamed 

forth resplendent the sun's rays: 
Chance fled amain from the face of the Lord, the 

Omnipotent Ruler ; 
Strength sat supreme on the throne of the 

universe, sovereign of all things. 
Then was made known what a wonder of love! 

For whereso Jehovah 
Looked on a soul elect by His sovereign decree 

to glory — 
Plucked from the holocaust frightful aflame 

with His fierce anger — 
Naught in life or in death, not all the powers of 

darkness 
Might by a hair's breadth that blessed one 

swerve from the free gift predestined — 
Love unconditioned his high birthright, though 

myriads were passed by ! 



J£bb ano aflow of tbe GtDes 9 

O Heart of Man, how couldst thou conceive twin 
demon and angel? 

How from one Fount could flow these waters so 
sweet and so bitter? 

So unfolds in gloom the marvellous night- 
blooming cactus; 

So from corruption and darkness the lily her 
petals upraises; 

So from her wild thorn-tangle .the rose breathes 
ravishing fragrance! 



Changeful the heavens. While storm-clouds 

loomed on the murky horizon, 
Down streamed the rifted zenith with silent 

splendor of sunlight. 
But, as swelling seas fore-run a new tide fast 

on-rolling, 
Storm-cloud and marvellous sunburst of glory in 

fitful succession, 
Sweep o'er the ocean vast, flying shadow and 

gleam intermingled. 
On bears the mighty stream with infinite 

passion thrilling, 



io 3obn /l&urraE's Xanfcfall 

As on the waking waters descends the breath of 

the Spirit; 
Travail of doubt, suspense and pain of destiny 

thwarted ; 
As if the dead of a thousand years, disturbed 

in their long sleep 
Moved from abysmal rest among mourning 

tangles of sea-growth, 
Moved by the currents of ocean, up-borne to 

life had risen — 
Voices celestial contending for man with demons 

infernal. 



Vanished the dream of the Commonwealth, 

vanished the armies of Cromwell; 
Dead was the life of the Church, grown gross 

and fat on the people ; 
Husks in place of bread she offered to men who 

were starving! 
Dead the things of the Spirit, buried in form 

and in dogma; 
Hushed the voices of praise, the liturgy tedious 

droning ; 



JEbb anD aflow of tbe Gfoes n 

Puritan freedom rejected, terrors of Puritan 

cherished ; 
Low ebbed the tide in Anglican waters, when 

out of the unknown — 
Voices of Oxford and Epworth the winds of 

heaven wide wafting — 
Out of the infinite deep John Wesley, in might 

ascended ; 
Rose on the crest of the mounting tide the 

masterful leader ; 
Shaking the sleep of the Church with the clarion 

voice of the prophet, 
Rousing dead souls to wake, to live for things 

of the Spirit. 



Bones of the dead heard his masterful summons, 

and fellow to fellow 
Came they, part to part, as garments of flesh 

clothed their waking! 
Fair on the gloom of the world shone forth the 

Brotherhood vision, 
Heart unto heart close binding, the burst of song 

sweeping heavenward, 



12 5obn ABurraE's Uan&fall 

As when bird-carols awake the fields from the 
sleep of winter. 

Spirit moving on the deep, 

Wake, ah, wake my soul from sleep! 

Melt my winter; Thy warm glow 

Bid springtime fragrance round me flow! 

Spirit of man, rejoice, rejoice! 
Through mart and way a gentle Voice 
Is calling, calling. Dost not hear 
The Friend of Sinners drawing near? 

Hope, like a bird on heavenward song t 
Rises where Night has brooded long; 
Floods the glad morn with joyous lay — 
Sweet herald of immortal Day! 

Over the land flow streams of refreshing from 
Heavenly fountains — 

Drink for the thirsty soul, for the perishing life- 
giving water. 

Hope to all the world extends the Lord's 
invitation, 



3Sbb ano fflow of tbe does 13 

Hope that would open wide the door for the 

many to enter — 
Hearts of men in revolt at last against Night's 

black invention — 
Hope with Fear alternate, yet tenderly offering 

comfort 
Unto hearts long crushed under Hell's condign 

reprobation 
(Hate masquerading as Logic with Love his 

bewildered partner). 

Nearer Jehovah draws, with the lowly making 

His dwelling; 
Open more wide the Arms of Calvary, yearning 

for all men ; 
Wider the Cross throws its light. But ever 

loom in the distance 
Muttering clouds whose night and gloom flash 

threatenings and lightning. 

Heart of Man, Heart of Man, ever aspiring, 

ever out-reaching, 
Shadows thou hatest, Day is thy birthright, 

Hope springs immortal! 



14 5obn /Bbucrag's 3LanfcfaU 

So sweet April breaks from her prison, and 

casts off her fetters, 
Melted to tears by the fervor of sunlight that 

greets her waking; 
Joy of new being, rainbow and shower, smiles 

amid weeping; 
Herald of gladness, of glory of summer, and 

fruitage of autumn. 



While the vast world of waters is seething with 

tidal commotion, 
Silent flows a shoreless stream through the 

ocean's vastness, 
Born where majestic Amazon's equatorial ardor 
Meets the implacable tidal wrath of jealous 

Atlantic — 
Soul of a thousand leagues of sun-kissed tropical 

splendor ; 
Inexhaustible wealth of immemorial forests, 
Garlands of verdure perpetual draping the 

mighty river; 
Network of interlaced waterways weaving a 

royal garment, 



2* TRivet tbe Streams iKflbcceof flfcafte (SlaD 15 

Robing in raiment of silver a continent's virgin 

bosom; 
Life, exuberant life, rejoicing, o'erflowing the 

sun's realm, 
Graced by the lordly palm, with the fairy orchid 

bejewelled. 



On through mysterious depths of all-encom- 
passing ocean, 

Urged by the constant winds that blow from 
Orient's dreaming, 

Under-sea waters from either pole married and 
flowing 

Westward urge the current, as sunward the 
ponderous earth rolls. 

Silent the sea-river takes its way through 
Caribbean waters 

Instinct with life, whose billows flash soft- 
phosphorescent, 

Lit by the gleam of the Southern Cross and the 
splendor of Argo ; 

Warmed on the sea-robed bosom of Earth are 
the star- jewelled billows 



1 6 $obn fl&urra^a Xan&faH 

Under whose sea-caves glow subterranean tor- 
rents fierce flaming, 

Pelee terrific with lightnings, seaward hurling 
his thunder. 

On flow the fertile waters, laving the glowing 
Antilles, 

Teeming the myriad shapes of life that crowd 
the full seaway, 

Scaly tribes of hue resplendent, coral, gor- 
gona; 

Forth from its native seas to the Gulf, as unto 
its cradle, 

Pausing where the fierce Cortez trampled on 
pale Montezuma, 

Onward swirls the stream, the Mississippi salut- 
ing; 

Breath of Tortugas, spell of the Everglade, 
breath of Bahamas 

Borne to sea-girt Bermudas, to pine-clad 
Carolinas ; 

Kissing the rock-ribbed hills, New England's 
austerity wooing, 

Life imparting, forever rejoicing, the flood 
presses northward 



n mvci tbe Streams Wbereot dftafte <3laD 17 

Unto the conflict with night, with cold, with 

ice-floe and iceberg. 
Nor ever sailed from Arctic fastness so hostile a 

squadron 
But at the touch of this gentle river vanished 

forever 
Icy hull and glittering spar, all silently sinking. 

As to the rigorous, ice- vexed North the Gulf 

Stream bringeth 
Joy of a sunnier zone, to sombre shores glad 

verdure, 
So hath a gentle influence flowed from the days 

of John Murray, 
Heralding Love's new evangel, the Heavenly 

vision declaring; 
Melting pitiless dogma with long antiquity 

hoary ; 
Giving to Brotherhood wider meaning, Manhood 

exalting. 
Man of essence divine, of Love Almighty the 

offspring ; 
Love, gracious Source of all being, Source and 

Goal of creation; 



1 8 5obn /IRurrag's XanDfall 

Love Supreme, sure Sovereign of Sin, of Sorrow, 

of Tumult; 
Light the Lord of the universe, Shadow servant 

of Sunlight! 
Small and feeble the rivulet's birth, of blind eyes 

unnoticed ; 
Small indeed flowed the rivulet, fed by the 

tears of Love's Herald; 
Tears of brave souls that saw with rapture the 

heartening vision. 



Long the noble procession, and sacred the roll 
of the Fathers, 

Sedulous guarding light that had flickered 
adown the dark ages. 

Braved they undaunted the wrath of man to 
publish good tidings; 

Bowed they to no Pretender, to no irresponsible 
Weakling, 

But (even as through a mist, and perhaps in 
outline only), 

Saw they Almighty Love, the Infinite life- 
giving Father, 






H IRiver tbe Streams TlGlbereof /Ifcafee <Bla& 19 

Bowed they to One whose sure Hand each sin- 
fullest soul was leading 

Unto a noble heritage, foreordained e'er the 
world was. 



Spirits touched with morning-glow on-coming, seen 

ajar, 
Undaunted by the gloom and woe slow fading, 

star by star, 
They sing the Father and His child — ah, none 

the twain may part! 
Nor stealthy foe, nor tempest wild His own tear 

from His heart. 



They sing of One whose rescuing feet unwearied 
aye shall be, 

Till He behold His flocks complete for Love's high 
destiny. 

They sing the bond which none may break, immut- 
able and strong, 

The birthright naught from man may take — my 
harp, lift up thy song! 



20 3obn /lBurraE'0 Uan&fall 

Not from the zenith only, not intermingled with 

storm-cloud, 
Saw they the Light Ineffable filling the uttermost 

heavens, 
Light whose glory in this new era the world is , 

rejoicing; 
Light in whose growing effulgence appears a new 

Earth, a new Heaven. 
Hail, ye heroes of Truth, in whose faithful and 

dauntless keeping 
Quenchless the sacred fire should glow till these i 

times of refreshing! 



Slow grew the stream with years; and now a. 

masterful river, 
Pours its beneficent course, on-bringing Time's 

dream in its fulness — 
Warmth of love 'gainst cold legalism, Greek: 

thought against Roman. 
Many and precious the fruitful seeds that have 

drifted to far lands, 
Borne on this river's bosom, borne to mankind I 

from the sun's realm. 



n Itfver tbe Streams TMbereot /Ifcake (SlaD 21 

What rare wonders of beauty and fragrance shall 

burst on the future, 
He shall reveal who bade us consider the grace 

of the lily — 
Lord and Brother of every soul, Humanity's 

Flower. 



Pour thy floods, mighty River of Life, in majesty 
roll on, 

Melt from our limbs each galling fetter; cast 
down old oppression; 

Sweep proudly on through Love's domain, trea- 
sure-laden for all men; 

Warming, transfusing, hope's dream enlarging 
to faith's clearer vision; 

Flow through the storm- vexed ocean, unto the 
uttermost island, 

Yea, till the floods clap their hands, proclaiming 
the joy of the waters ! 



Ye who have watched with awe the resistless 
tides of the Spirit 



22 Jobn flfcucraE's Xanfcfall 

Flooding this bourne of hope with Love's 

inexhaustible ocean; 
Sweeping to vast oblivion the fleeing phantoms 

of terror 
Which have enslaved mankind from immemorial 

ages, 
Hiding the Father's face from the blinded eyes 

of His children, 
Take ye heart who gaze on the billows now 

sunward rolling ; 
List while I sing how the Spirit moulded the 

heart of John Murray; 
Hear, too, the simple tale of a lowly heart and 

its yearning; 
List while I sing the answer vouchsafed a lone 

watcher for day spring. 




T O, as I mused on the ways of the Spirit, my 

* -1 soul was transported 

Back to days of eld, in the flower- wreathed 

island of Erin 
Where, 'mid wealth of sweet verdure, thrush, 

cuckoo, and blackbird are singing; 
Soft airs of summer rejoicing the woodland, 

hillside, and valley. 
Bowered in odorous fruit trees and oaks, an ivy- 
grown mansion 
Dreamed in stately repose of the grace of years 

departed ; 
While, hard by, from the moss- walled garden, 

fragrance and bird-song 
Wooed with subtle spell the zephyrs that hovered 

around it ; 
Breathed a delicious balm on the soul of the 

wayfaring stranger. 
23 



24 5obn /fturtag's XanDtall 

As long I mused — of the present unmindful, 
apart from the turmoil — 

Stood by my knee a lad of ten summers, wistful 
gazing 

Into my face with eyes of soft azure, in question- 
ing wonder. 

Quaint was the garb, demure the demeanor and 
speech of the youngster, 

As 'twere an aged man returned to the days 
of his boyhood. 

Yet in his eye there sparkled a gleam of boyish 
mischief. 



"Tell me, I pray thee, my lad," quoth I, "of 
thyself and thy story. 

Why this look of sadness, where all things 
around us are smiling?" 

Then, scarce I know whether waking or dream- 
ing, in fragments he uttered 

Yearnings his child-heart was pondering, mingled 
with premature sorrow. 

And, as the way is in Dreamland, the boy, 
while his narrative lengthened, 



jfrfenfcs 25 

Grew to manhood's estate; and thus the story 

proceeded — 
Murmured, half dreaming, half waking, anon 

with himself as 'twere musing: 

Good sir, I know not what did draw 

Me unto thee, but when I saw 

Thee coming slowly down the way 

I could not help but leave my play 

And go to meet thee, for it seemed 

Thou too hadst dreamed 

Of birds and flowers and sunshine sweet — 

And so I ran my friend to meet; 

But when I saw thy smiling face 

I was sure thou wast no "Object of Grace"; 

Because, thou must know, 'tis the way with us 

here: 
The more religious the more severe. 
Mayhap thy home 's in some far-distant land, 
And the ways of our people dost not understand ! 

My name? John Murray. Father said 
I raised my head, 



26 5obn Murray's XanDfall 

On being "received" in Church, and when 

The prayers were over, stoutly cried : Amen ! 

The priest nigh dropped me on the floor, 

For ne'er had I lisped a word before. 

A lusty babe! With great ado 

Was mirth scarce hushed, from pew to pew. 

I 'd been baptized, you know, in haste, 

When ill, lest, dying, I perdition taste. 

Is n't it terrible to think 

We 're always walking on the brink ! 

I do so love a boyish prank! — 
A merry laugh, a joyous song — 
Think'st thou not there 's something wrong 
When springtide lowers dark and dank? 

Often they call me a "frivolous lad," 
But it seems to me our home 's pretty sad 
For a boy that longs to be cheery and glad. 
Over our house broods a cloud of fear, 
As lurked some dreadful danger near; 
Father and Mother and children all 
Tremble because of Adam's fall. 



jfdenDs 27 

Hast thou not heard that we 're fatally wrecked, 
If our names are not written among "the elect"? 

When by my bed I kneel at night 
My heart stands still with a deadly fright, 
And I shrink as from the touch of Death, 
For my cheek is damp with Satan's breath, 
Who, kneeling beside me, in my ear 
Whispers, striking me dumb with fear, 
Terrors that mortal may not hear. 

When the wild wind moans, 

Trembling at the groans 

Of jthe wretched souls God has passed by ; 

Utterly spent 

With the sad lament, 

I shudder at the ghostly tread, 

And fall asleep crying 

At thought of dying, 

Hiding my head 

In the depths of the bed. 

Oft I wake in the still of night, 
Startled from sleep and chill with fear; 



28 $obn Murray Xan&fall 

But the moon smiles calm, her soothing light 
Filling the night-watch with delight ; 
The stars look down and shame my fright, 
And the soft winds breathe so sweet and pure 
I fall asleep again secure. 

Oft from sorrow I steal away, 

In Grandmother's garden yonder to play. 

My grandmother's garden is fair to see, 

With rose and lily and hedge of may ; 

Soft-blowing trumpets of coral woodbine 

That murmur strange sea lore to loved eglantine; 

Foxglove, iris, and tulip gay, 

Violet's breath and forget-me-not; 

Bluebells ringing their merry chime, 

Herb and simple, red bergamot, 

Aroma of mint, of rue, of thyme. 

And lilac so sweet! There the droning bee 

Gossips and garners from flower to flower, 

From garden gate to clematis bower, 

While the summer breezes gently rock 

Stately rows of hollyhock. 



•ffn tbe (Sarfcen 29 

Thither a child-heart's grief I carry ; 
There long hours I dreaming tarry ; 
There love's labor makes me whole ; 
Comfort there flows into my soul. 

Little flowers, I love you and bring you my 

tears. 
You have no fears; 
But it seems to me 
You are as happy as happy can be. 
Your faces fresh with morning dew, 
So sweet, so innocent, so true, 
Look up to the glad sun, 
As if you knew him one 
That you could surely, surely trust; 
As if he loved you well; as if you all loved him. 
Each little cup 
That you hold proudly up 
With never a trace of fear, 
He fills e'en to the brim 
With sunlight and with cheer. 
But I, alas, I weep; how oft I must! 
If some stray tears let fall 
Into your cup their gall, 



30 3obn flfourtas's Xan&fall 

/ hope you will forgive — 

Without your love I f tn sure I could not live! 

I often, often cry, 

When smiles the gentle sky, 

For fear it is my fate 

To be a "reprobate"; 

For Father says that I 

May forever, ever die, 

And he never spares the rod, 

Lest I should not love my God, 

Lest I should chance to be a reprobate. 

Oh, how I hate, oh, how I hate 
Those dreadful, dreadful words, 
When I long to hear the birds 
And fly to you for cheer! 
You always know my fear, 
Though you so peaceful seem — - 
Your life a pleasant dream! 

But what could you expect 

Of a boy who 's " non-elect"? 



Gears 31 

I Ve only lived ten years, 

But my eyes are wet with tears 

And my heart is filled with fears. 

The Sabbath 's a day of dreadful gloom, 

I am shut in my silent room; 

Irksome and long the tedious hours 

In the tight-shuttered house, away from the 

flowers — 
For you know it 's a sin in the garden to 

walk, 
Or of sunshine or anything joyful to talk. 
Solemn and slow I 'm led to the meeting, 
With never a smile or friendly greeting; 
With eyes fixed straight upon my path, 
Lest I bring down my father's wrath; 
Sermon filled with fierce damnation; 
Fearful strivings for salvation; 
The afternoon 't is all repeated, 
Hard on the wearisome benches seated; 
Evening brings long watchings weary, 
Exhortations harsh and dreary; 
The faults of the day are then revised, 
And I — as example — am well chastised; 



32 5obn tfBurraE's XanDtall 

And then I 'm often fervently told — 
Ah, how it makes my blood run cold ! — 
If I walk in the straight and narrow way, 
/ may spend an eternal Sabbath day I 

I love the gatherings in the street 
Where the singers carol soft and sweet ; 
Then it seems as if I too were glad — 
Dear flowers, do you think I 'm very, very 
bad? 

In the lovely sky smiles your father, the sun; 
But I am "non-elect," Heavenly Father I have 

none; 
And I dare not "blaspheme" His very holy 

name 
By making so "presumptuous" a claim. 

Oh, might I only be a thing of joy — 

A wild bird, flying light and free, 
A swift fish glancing through the sea, 
A hound, a hare, rejoicing to run, 
A flower lightly laughing to the sun — 

Anything else in the world but a "reprobate" 
bov! 



Hove 1Ts Calling 33 

The flowers, for answer, breathed their incense 

sweet ; 
It rose on sunbeams to Love's mercy seat; 
It woke once more within the trembling boy 
The ever-springing fount of childish joy. 



So did the shadow of Calvin blight the young 

life of John Murray — 
Shadow appalling, terrific, but only a shadow; 

the night- wrack 
Borne on a mighty flood of blessing that swept 

o'er the nations. 

Ever I loved the songs in the street, 
Swelling in simple cadence pure and sweet, 
As if my joyous garden flowers were singing; 
As if the song of happy birds were ringing : 

11 Love is calling, Love is calling, 

Love is calling thee; 
Love is calling, Love is calling : 

1 Sinner, come to me! ' 
3 



34 5obn flfcurrag's XanDfall 

11 Love is calling, Love is calling, 

Do not turn away : 
Love is calling, Love is calling: 

'Come while it is day ! ' 

11 Love is calling, Love is calling, 

Harden not thy heart; 
Love is calling, Love is calling: 

l Now choose the better partV" 

There in the midst the form of Wesley rose; 
A prophet of the people, touched with fire, 
Who could the coldest heart with zeal inspire; 
Whose might could multitudes around him draw, 
And by the magic of his spirit thaw 
To love the scorn and hatred of his foes, 
Knitting all souls with bonds of sweet accord, 
Thrilled by the presence of the Living Lord. 

" Come, sinner, come and learn to pray , 
Come, learn to pray, come, learn to pray I 

Within the fold there 's rest for thee r 
For long hast thou fared the way, 

Foot-sore and spent with misery. 



Cbe Singers 35 

" Within the fold shalt thou find peace, 
Thou shalt find peace, thou shalt find peace; 

Thy weariness shall find repose, 
The Shepherd give thy toil release, 

And pour His balm upon thy woes. 

" Within the fold there is room for all, 
There 's room for all, there 's room for all; 

Come while the door is open wide! 
For thee I hear the Shepherd call — 

'0 haste thee, sinner, to His side!"' 

Where surged the crowds there sang the singers 

sweet, 
Inviting all in the Redemeer's name: 
The young, the old, the strong, the halt, the lame, 
The haughty peer, the woman bowed with 

shame. 
I saw the hardened sinner trembling come, 
The bold blasphemer, tearful, stricken dumb; 
The heedless throng arrested in the street, 
Swayed by the preacher, fell at Jesus' feet. 

We children felt the lifting of the gloom; 
In songs of joy forgot impending doom; 



36 3obn /HburraE'6 Xan&fall 

Hope, seeking all, descended from the Cross, 
And silenced threat enings of predestined loss. 
Swift ran the tidings through the country-side; 
The people flocked to hear from far and wide ; 
Rejoicing carols rose along the way, 
And wider grew the excitement day by day; 
The Lord no more as Sovereign sat apart, 
But walked with men at home and in the mart. 



My father, erst so stern, did follow Wesley, 

Who called him saint, but for his Calvinism, 

Which he called damnable. Me too he loved — 

This mighty leader — and my heart took fire. 

A man imperious of command was he, 

Whose followers loved and feared him as a god. 

Unwearied in the saddle, far and near, 

Rode he through all the kingdom, marshalling 

The newly wakened hosts to follow him. 

A husbandman he sowed beside all waters, 

Sedulous casting precious grain afar, 

Where now, full-eared, the whitening fields bow 

low: 
Lord of the Harvest, see, an hundred-fold 
Unto Thy garner now the seed returns ! 



Gbe ftwaftening 37 

My young heart, which had been long time 

distraught, 
Lest I were doomed to be a reprobate, 
Yielded to song of those melodious bands 
That unto Ireland's soul had brought glad up- 
lift, 
Grasped at the invitation and did find 
Assurance of acceptance. Loud then sang 
My heart for joy; for me the palms of peace 
Waved fronds of welcome. 

Then the great man chose 

Me, still of tender years, grown strong in grace, 
Making me leader of a class of youths 
Two-score in number, boy-companions all, 
Whose hearts I soon enkindled with my zeal, 
Whose lives I drew about me. Ere the sun 
Had waked the dawn, and at his journey's close, 
Our souls held converse sweet from day to day, 
Vocal with song and prayer and admonition, 
Till all felt well assured that they were rescued 
From the impending doom that shadowed all. 
I was entranced with draughts of Love Divine, 
Where I was early taught to look for vengeance. 



38 5obn Murray's XanDfall 

Visions of Love inviting all mankind, 

Vague but majestic, ravished my young soul. 

The morning cloud of terror backward rolled. 

But, oh, the weakness of the human heart! 
Where fear had dwelt grew now rank self- 
complaisance. 
Love had me chosen ; what was it to me 
That others might not to my joy attain? 
I was beloved, my love was fully answered; 
Does the fond lover vex his ravished soul 
Because, forsooth, his joy all may not share! 

Wearied at length by this high exaltation, 
Reaction cooled my boyish followers, 
Bringing dissension in its train. My soul, 
With joy and disappointment overwrought, 
Plunged heavily down the glooms into black 

night. 
This did but add unto my sanctity; 
I was the more admired — a rising light! 
Did not one tell me he would liever dwell 
With thousand demons than ten laughing men? 
Did not the Wesleyans say 't was damnable 
Error to claim election before faith 



Ipcfeet and {prelate 39 

Had wrought its work, yet, where such evident 
Favor divine shone as adorned my life, 
There could no doubt remain of my election? 
So 'twixt Arminian and Calvinist 
On the full tide of favor was I borne 
Into the Kingdom, lauded and caressed! 

But in my heart a sickening doubt had risen 

As to the very day of my new birth — 

So, for my years too curious, did I pry 

Into the deep recesses of my spirit, 

Warped by the ceaseless warfare of the preachers. 

Was 't marvellous that pride should grow apace 

In me, the darling of both warring factions ! 

Suddenly came a summons to appear, 

By the command of our most reverend bishop, 

Before the parish priest, there to prepare 

For confirmation, ere his Lordship come. 

A man of earthly vision was our rector, 

Drawn by the loaves and fishes. His small soul 

Detested this new fervor in the air 

And, as he warned us not to be entrapped 

By the fantastic ravings of the wild 



40 5obn dfcurraE's XanDfall 

Enthusiasts who filled the land with clamor — 
1 ' Presumptuous ! Adding unto things appointed ; 
Insulting Heaven with sacrilegious songs!" — 
Anent the operation of the Spirit 
Brooding upon the soul, he bade us know 
That by our baptism we were members made 
Of Christ, and of the Heavenly Kingdom heirs. 
Humbly I asked: "And did I, Sir, receive 
In baptism all of the advantages?" 



Frowning he answered: "Yea, undoubtedly." 
"Then, Sir, what lack I more, and why prepare 
For confirmation?" "Hush, impertinence!" 
He cried in anger. "Sir, I do but ask 
For information, I would be instructed." 
"Nay, but for insolence thou comest; thou 
Wouldst see thy patron Wesley in my pulpit ! 
Thou hast no business here; I warn thee hence!" 
"Sir, I conceive that I have business here, 
By order of my bishop. When we last 
Did meet thou saidst it were not possible 
To feel the workings of the Holy Spirit ; 
Yet, Sir, the Church's Articles do speak 
Of Special comfort to all godly men 



lpriest anD prelate 41 

Who in themselves do feel the Spirit's workings." 
"Thou art not with these Articles concerned, 
And if thou cease not thine impertinence, 
I shall command the clerk to put thee hence ! " 
"Command me, Sir," I said, "and I will go." 

Naught said he more until again we met. 

Then poured he forth his wrath upon my head 

In biting sarcasm. I was sore abashed. 

In deep confusion in my hat I hid 

My face suffused with shame. Wrathful he 

then 
Bade me depart, for none might desecrate 
That holy fane with laughter. I withdrew 
In dire confusion. But as he came out 
I humbly begged for pardon ; he had done 
Me wrong; too deeply did I venerate 
The time and place for mirth, but I was grieved 
That he denied the Spirit's present power. 
"Didst thou not say, when thou, Sir, wast 

ordained, 
That thou didst feel the moving of the Spirit, 
Drawing thee to the teacher's sacred office?" 
"Silence, insufferable ignorance! 



42 Jobn flfcurraE's Xandfall 

Of these things know'st thou naught!" They 

that stood by 
Smiled at my triumph, as the priest strode forth. 

As I was passing on the street one said: 

Dost thou not know his Lordship 's at the 

church, 
This very moment laying on his hands? 
Instantly I ran thither with all haste, 
Vexed that my priest had thought to pass me 

by. 

I entered, and a hush fell on my soul. 
Haloed with dim light mystical that streamed 
Through glowing windows soft with rainbow- 
dreams — 
Angels, triumphant and enraptured saint, 
Limned all-glorious as the gates of morn — 
Sat the good bishop on his oaken throne 
Hard by the altar, vestured in flowing robes. 
Upon his right, with crozier rich in gold, 
His chaplain stood; upon his left my priest. 

Softly advancing to the chancel knelt I 
At end of the circling class of candidates. 



priest anD prelate 43 

Stooping, the priest unto his Lordship spake 
In whispered tones. The bishop answered low: 
" 'T is of no moment, if they understand." 
Dark glowered the priest, for he would fain 

exclude 
The followers of Wesley. Sternly then 
Questioned the prelate, as he turned to me. 
"What business hast thou here? " "My Lord," 

said I, 
" My sponsors at my baptism did renounce 
The Devil and his works and all the pomp, 
The vanity and lusts of sinful flesh; 
Promising to prepare me for this day, 
And for thy blessing to present me here. 
These failing to make good their promises, 
I, by your Lordship's leave, present myself." 
"Know'st thou the meaning of this ordi- 
nance?" 
"I do conceive, my Lord, the promises 
Made by my sponsors cannot be fulfilled 
Save by the operation of the Spirit, 
Moving my heart to seek this means of Grace." 
"Hast thou partaken of the Eucharist?" 
"Yea, my Lord, trembling first, but did receive, 



44 3obn flfcurras's XanDfall 

Communing oft, such consolation vast 
That never have I since absented me." 

Softening his voice, the aged bishop said: 
"Son, thou art right," and, laying on his hands, 
Gave me his blessing, while I knelt before 
him. 

Then with a glance he smote the unfaithful 

priest, 
Covering him with confusion. All my friends 
Rejoiced; among them my proud father. Soft, 
Rose in clear, solemn tones, as sang the choir: 
Veni Creator Spiritus. 

Wheel within wheel, Chapel and Church. By 

wayside and hamlet 
Sounded the voice, the spontaneous outburst of 

heart-felt devotion, 
Rending the rigid bonds of liturgy, longing for 

new life. 

So from the root darkly dormant, the joyous 
sapling uprises 



Gbe JBee Earners Iboneg 45 

Till, from the parent-root parting, it towers a 

lord of the forest. 
Well may the Anglican mourn the blindness that 

cast out the singers ! 

As from all flowers, the poison rejecting, the bee 

garners honey, 
Murray in Calvin found love unconditioned, 

love for the Chosen, 
But for the Many darkness and terror, hopeless, 

eternal. 

Wider love found he in Wesley, hope-laden the 

free invitation 
Unto the multitude, waking with longing of 

hunger unsated; 
And his young spirit made eager response to 

the joy of the singers. 
Beauty the Church offered; and his soul seized 

it, of beauty enamoured, 
Beauty of tint and form, of tone; yet apples of 

Sodom 
But for the grace of souls like the bishop — rare 

souls of pure vision. 



46 5obn /lfturraE'6 Xan&fall 

My father dead, my widowed mother poor, 
Our powerful neighbor haled me to the court, 
As witness in the suit that he would bring 
Against the tenant of our ancestral home. 
For he whose fraud had got him the estate 
Would use me as his tool. When called, I rose 
And with full circumstance unto the Court 
Unfolded the dark tale. Then, hot with scorn, 
Pointing defiance at the villain, cried: 
"Justice, my Lord! for justice at your hands 
I fain would plead. The plaintiff in this case 
Should be defendant made. Unto this land, 
These various estates which he doth hold, 
He hath no proper title. Spurious deeds, 
As I have shown, do bar my widowed mother, 
Her and her children from their heritage. 
Him who hath called me as his witness I 
Denounce unto your Honor as usurper ! 
Justice, my Lord! I ask that these estates 
Revert again unto my family, 
Restoring us to former opulence.' ' 

So did I plead, when but a callow youth, 
Against the tyrant of the country-side. 



tfor justice 47 

Then yielding to my eloquence the Court 
Decreed me justice, and my cause prevailed, 
To me and to my kin our lands restoring. 



Vaster injustice in years to follow that voice 

was denouncing; 
Fearless defying the man-made fetters of 

ghostly oppression; 
Birthright divine for all men claiming, dead 

spirits awakening. 
Wide, ever wider, lo, human brotherhood reigns 

now triumphant, 
Where of that voice long echoes, far- wafted, 

empires are shaking ! 



Soon we were dwelling in our new abode, 
In the ancient halls reclining, drinking joy 
Of fair ancestral gardens — life ran smooth. 
Fast grew our circle ; many the friendly feet 
That crossed our threshold; groaned the 

generous board. 
Soon hospitality and public weal 



48 3obn flfcurraB's XanOtall 

Led us away from thought for our affairs, 
Narrowing our resources. 

Among all 
Our neighbors loved we best an aged man 
Whose sons Death '§ hand had snatched; 

one was my friend 
Whom I had dearly loved. This sonless 

man, 
Of large wealth master, set his love on me, 
And would that I might be his foster-son, 
To comfort his last years, to give him aid 
In his affairs. He and his gray-haired wife 
Did urge my mother, saying I should be 
A brother to his daughters. For my sake 
His plea prevailed, and I became a son 
Unto his house, whose love did welcome me, 
Knitting our households twain in closer 

bonds. 

Bright shone those halcyon days, the weeks, 

the months, 
Whose blessing rested lightly on my head, 
Until 't was noised abroad I should be made 
The adopted son of all his opulence. 



IbatreO's JBnvious tongue 49 

Then flickered Hatred's envious tongue at 

me — 
For the old man had passed his kindred by. 

My foster-parents bade me give no ear 
To calumny, but with them bide in peace, 
Nor ever stray from their encircling love: 
"Stay with us, boy," my foster-father cried, 
'"flic evenings lag when thou art gone 

abroad. 
Thou art our stay and comfort, and thy 

voice 
Gladdens our mournful hearts, grieving for 

him 
Whom Death has claimed. Nay, leave us 

not, my son! 
Thy mother grieveth with me and thy 

sisters, 
Whene'er we miss thee from the fireside 

glow, 
For we would have thee read to us, would 

hear 
Thy loved voice lead us in discourse and 

prayer." 

4 



50 $obn /ifcurraE's Xanfcfall 

Yet irksome waxed the days, to duty 

pledged. 
I longed to meet my classmates of old time 
In pious gatherings, gladsome with sweet 

song. 
But whenso from the home I absented me, 
A pall of gloom fell on the hearthstone's 

glow. 

Being once invited by a guest of the house — 
A minister, new-frocked, a man of parts — 
I took my journey with him ; I would hear 
Him speak. We entered where a multitude 
Waited a preacher. Arm in arm we went 
Into the pulpit. Suddenly he turned 
Me toward the congregation — and with- 
drew! 
I was ensnared; retreat was none. Then, 

lo! 
My mouth was opened; I began to preach. 

I was delighted. Oh the new-found joy, 
Out-pouring my freed soul upon the sea 
Of faces up-turned, hanging on my word! 



Gbe tfle&geUng Spreads bis Tunings 51 

I was a new-fledged bird whose wings, 

untried, 
Had, unexpected, borne him on the air ! 

Keen grew my appetite. On my return, 
Whereso I went I spake unto the people ; 
A new-found hero of the neighborhood. 
Came local fame to me, and household 

sorrow. 
For my young heart did crave a larger 

field, 
And ever in mine ears whispered the 

voice 
Of the great world of London. All in 

vain 
Did he who called me son beg me to stay; 
With many tears my foster-mother plead, 
And she who called me brother — with white 

face. 
But my heart answered Nay, while flowed 

our tears. 
I did relent again and once again, 
But the voice drave me sore, and would be 

heard. 



52 $obn /ifcurraE's XanDtall 

One night when I returned late from a 

meeting 
Hushed was the house ; all were enwrapped 

in sleep, 
Save only Anna — she would speak with me. 
Her father's ire was kindled; he liked not 
My frequent absence, which mine enemies 
Distorted with insinuations vile. 
"O, Brother John, how hateful is the 

thought 
That thou couldst harbor aught of ill intent, 
Which in their hate thy foes would fasten 

on thee; 
For these relentless harpies, of my kin, 
Still hover, bent on mischief, round thy 

path, 
Seeking thy hurt, and I am sore distressed! 
Father and Mother are disconsolate; 
When thou art absent little Prue doth pout. 
Well know I how thy bird-like spirit chafes 
Within the narrow confines of thy cage, 
Eager for wider fields and loftier skies, 
And with vague fear my soul doth follow 

thee. 



Driven ot tbe Spirit 53 

Her pleading sister-love so touched my 

heart, 
That I, repenting my neglect with tears, 
Pressed to my lips her hand, in gratitude. 

"So, sir! 11 exclaimed a voice of wrath and 

scorn, 
And, lo, her father in the shadowy door! 
Advancing slow he took her hand from 

mine 
All trembling now, and, silent, led her 

forth. 
O'erwhelmed I sat, stark staring after them. 

Her sad face smote me — sad as beautiful. 
True as the light was she, pure as the 

dew; 
Gentle her voice, and soft her melting eyes, 
Yet loved I her as sister only, wed 
Unto religion, passion stirred me not. 
How could I hurt her so whose love would 

shield me? 
Yet how had my indiscretion murdered 

peace ! 



54 3obn Murray's UanDfall 

That night I slept not. The next morn 

appeared 
My foster-mother in dismay. What ill 
Had so distraught her husband and her 

child ; 
Could I confess? Then I recounted all, 
Saying that I must hence, lest worse 

bechance. 
With deep emotion she, throwing her arms 
About me, plead with me to stay, nor fear 
Her husband's anger ; bade me give no heed 
To the world's call, but stay with them in 

peace. 

So I, relenting, yielded to her plea, 
The while the voice, insistent, bade me go. 
Yet naught availed it, for anon I grew 
More restless in my fetters ; jealousy 
Pursuing still my path, demanded all. 
Clearer the voice insisted, day by day. 

I was distracted; I would burst all bonds, 
As ocean's tide sweeps all before its flood — 
Not my own mother, hanging on my neck, 



HWven of tbe Spirit 55 

Pleading that I would not forsake her now ; 
That I might help her bear the burdens 

God 
Had placed upon her shoulders ; help her rear 
My brothers and my sisters, saying her 

hopes 
Were shattered, for methought she fain 

would call 
My foster-sister daughter — then I wept 
With her, relenting — but anon more clear 
The voice inexorable bade me follow ; 
Not baby brother, clinging to my knee, 
While broke my heart; not little Prue, all 

tears, 
Come to my chamber to make moan that I 
Leave not my playmate, saying Anna sat 
Sad-eyed and aimless, or paced to and fro, 
Wringing her hands, bedewed with silent 

tears ; 
Nor foster-father's taunt, that I had not 
Wherewith to travel, naught to face the 

world — 
Pouring, contemptuous, vast weight of gold 
Into my hat, outstretched at his command, — 



56 5obn Murray's XanDfall 

Naught stifled in my ears the inexorable 
voice. 

Then, dazed, I to my mother bore the gold; 

But she refused it utterly, bade use 

It for my need. With breaking heart she 

gave 
Her blessing, when she saw I could not 

stay: 
"Not in himself is the way of man, my 

child! 
If thou must go, Beloved, my firstborn, 
I bow. May God, thy father's God, keep 

thee 
From every evil, and thy footsteps guide 
To larger service for His holy name!" 
Then her dear arms did clasp me to her 

breast — 
That faithful bosom which erst nourished 

me — 
Ceasing, she left me there, all tears, grief - 

stricken. 
Then the voice drave me forth, and I in 

haste 



©riven of tbc Spirit 57 

Fled through the flowers of the garden gate. 
All things invited me, but I passed on; 
Dear hearts entreated me, but I passed on, 
Dragging my limbs reluctant to the height. 

I know not what strong power doth drive 

me forth, 
Out go I must! Into the unknown world 
I fare in tears. Am I forth driven by Fate, 
Like him of old who fled from Ilion — 
From love and luxury of Carthage torn — 
Driven by the gods to found imperial Rome ! 
Wherefore, whereunto am I driven thus? 
Wills Heaven, perchance, that I extend 

Love's empire? 

Saith not the Scripture truly: "In him- 
self 
Is not the way of man?" Insufferable 
Longer this strong-compelling restlessness. 
Driven forth from blessedness of Paradise, 
Like to the father of mankind I flee ! 
Doth God, perchance, me lead, as He of 
old 



58 3obn /ifcurrag's XanDfall 

Led him of Ur, who sought a better country, 
Who took his journey thence, not knowing 
whither? 



Across the vale, from the hill's crest I 

gazed : 
Farewell, loved home whose tears for me 

are flowing! 
Farewell, companions of my prayers and 

praise ! 
Farewell, ye gardens fragrant in the sun, 
I tear my heart from all in my despair ; 
One look; 'tis past, and I am gone forever! 

Sore agitated pressed I on, nor looked 
What lay behind, till bells of Shan don's 

tower 
Rang out far chimes o'er the Great March 

of Munster 
Where Corroch, throned upon her island 

fair, 
Crowned with her coronet of circling hills, 
Saluted me along the banks of Lee, 



Son, (Bo ffoctb 59 

Heartening my steps. Kindred I found 

here dwelling, 
Who gave warm welcome to their hearts 

and home. 
These, learning soon my purpose, cooled 

their love, 
Looking upon me as adventurer. 

Drawn to the Methodists, my spirit spread 
Her wings again in the pulpit, upward 

soaring 
'Mid things divine. The people welcomed 

me. / 

When I descended; glowing with my theme, 
Advanced my grandam, who so late re- 
proached, 
Her blessing to bestow, her eyes alight, 
With fire prophetic burning: "Son, go 

forth ; 
The Lord Omnipotent will show thy way! 
Thou art ordained from darkness unto light 
Many to lead, from Satan unto God. 
Thy father's God will bless and prosper 
thee. 



60 Jobn flburra£'5 XanDfall 

Look no more back, but forward go in 
faith! 

Most holy, wise, and powerful, the Lord 

Doth govern all His creatures and their 
actions. 

Yea, in His mighty hand thou art as 
clay; 

He is thy Potter; He of thee will make 

A chosen vessel; none may Him withstand. 

I did thee wrong; my blessing now re- 
ceive!" 

As'water to the thirsty soul, as balm 
To one sore wounded fell her words off 
love. 

But soon suspicion woke new enemies 
Who called me Calvinist, and such I was; 
Such many more about me who received 
With joy that mighty preacher, Whitefield, 

who 
Drew me unto him, fascinating me 
With his soul-stirring eloquence. In twain 
The Methodists were rent by the Calvinist. 



Xano of tog Breams 61 

While yet I lingered was I importuned 
To abandon thought of England ; would I go 
To Limerick, to a waiting congregation? 
But the voice demanded that I tarry not ! 

So I took ship, and with wet eyes beheld 
Hibernia fade, as the winds wafted us 
Through the fair harbor's beauty, past the 

fortress 
Frowning above the shores of Hawlbowline, 
Commanded by my father's kin; and the 

sea 
Opened wide arms of welcome as we sped. 
Adieu, fair isle, with verdant hill and vale 
Adorned, fragrant with bloom, home of 

warm hearts, 
I shall not see thee more, a long farewell ! 

The magic of the sea ; the rapture keen 

At sight of England; joy of the Bristol 

landing ; 
The transport of delight at nature's beauty ; 
The blithesome voice of bird-song, tuneful 

hedge 



62 3obn /ifourraE's XanDfall 

And flower-enamelled meadow — Paradise — 
Me welcoming unto my native land; 
The walk to Bath from Bristol; fields of 

corn; 
The valleys redolent of new-mown hay; 
The mowers on the banks of Avon, who, 
Hearing me offer praise to nature's God, 
Hailed me as friend and fellow Methodist, 
Led me rejoicing to their cottage, summoned 
The neighbors of the countryside to greet 
Me with warm welcome, and to hear my 

word; 
(They dwelt on Avon, yet knew not Shake- 

spere's name!) 
The simple hospitality, fraternal love; 
The meeting with my father's friend in 

Bath, 
Who caught me in his arms and gazed on me 
Son of his youth's companion, bidding me 

preach 
From my full heart unto his congregation; 
The unexpected spring of fellowship, 
Bursting upon my path, friends newly 

found ; 



3Lan£> ot /fog Breams 63 

The beauty of the way, as once again 
The coach pressed fast toward London ; the 

solemn glow 
Of sunset o'er the world's metropolis, 
Whose nearing spires, whose multitudinous 

roofs 
Half-hidden lay in the murky air; the 

voice 
Of human life innumerous afar — 
Smote me with wonder and with exaltation : 

Here taking form my dreams of youth I 

saw; 
Saw ancient Westminster and Charing Cross 
And Strand; passed Drury Lane; saw the 

vast dome 
Of Wren's proud masterpiece loom on the 

night ; 
Gazed on the storied Tower; on misty 

Thames, 
Over whose darkling tide the home-bound 

throng 
Roared upon London Bridge! The myriad 

lights 



64 3obn flfturraB's XanDfall 

Gleamed out bewildering, pushing back the 

gloom 
As loud the stage-coach lumbered to the inn. 

Alone and friendless in the mighty town, 
My hungry eyes feasted upon the wonders 
Man through the centuries had slowly 

wrought ; 
Feasted and drank deep draughts until the 

night 
Drove me within, tears flowing, heart 

oppressed. 

Old friends of my father's sought I; few 
remained. 

I sought great Whitefield; he was other- 
where. 

The Wesleyans found me, but they looked 
askance 

When I my love for Whitefield had con- 
fessed 

(I heard him in the Tabernacle oft) ; 

For said not the great Wesley once to me : 

"No follower of Calvin lives who hears not 



Seeing Xife 65 

Within his inmost soul a whisper low : 
' May I not live as listeth me? What boots 
it?'" 

Fast flew the days, and fast the attentions 

showered 
By those 'twere mercy I had never known, 
The votaries of pleasure, far and near, 
Sought and assiduously courted me, 
Scenting my gold. Day by day I made 
New friends, good company indeed was 

deemed — 
Yes, I would see the world, but would hold 

fast 
My heritage of good and my religion ! 

I was intoxicated, drunk with pleasure! 
And one by one my friends invited me 
Into the circles of their fellowship. 
London, the sorceress had me in her toils. 
Spell-bound I yielded. I, by her charms 

entranced, 
Whirled in the giddy current, lived for 

pleasure, 

5 



66 3obn dfourrag's ILanDtaU 

And, as the swirling vortex drew me in, 
Forgot the past, the life of prayer and praise, 
All the loved company of those that hung 
Upon my words of exhortation. All 
Things of the Spirit vanished like a dream! 

" Comrades of mirth, let us fill high the bowl, 

Fill high the bowl, 

Fill high the bowl; 

Jolly good fellows are we! 
Together we '11 drink, and the song lightly troll , 

So?ig lightly troll, 

Song lightly trolly- 
Jolly good fellows are we ! 
Jolly good fellows, o'erbrimming with fun, 

Jolly good fellows are we ! 

11 To music's light strain tread the mazes of dance, 

Mazes of dance, 

Mazes of dance; 

Jolly good fellows are we ! 
Enchanting the measure, bewitching the glance, 

'Witching the glance, 

'Witching the glance; 



Seeing TLite 67 

Jolly good follows are we ! 
Jolly good fellows, overbrimming with fun, 
Jolly good fellows are we ! 

" Begone the dull round, then, of wearisome care, 

Wearisome care, 

Wearisome care; 

Jolly good fellows are we ! 
Of life 's flowing pleasures we HI drink our full share, 

Drink our full share, 

Drink our full share; 

Jolly good fellows are we ! 
Jolly good fellows, overbrimming with fun, 
Jolly good fellows are we!" 

I was astonished! I so lately loved, 
Admired, followed, reverenced in the church» 
Now a gay reveller! but I brushed aside 
The pleas of conscience, and the dance 

went on. 
Under the table oft I tossed the wine, 
Lest I should lose myself in the circling 

eddies 
That drew me nearer, nearer the abyss. 



68 5obn /ifturraE's ftanfcfall 

Held by some Power Divine, I did not sink 
Into the pitfall where Vice for my soul 
Lay ambushed, masked in gardens of 

delight. 
Folly's poor slave, scarce snatched from 

sure perdition, 
Convivial parties, Vauxhall, and the play 
Opened a world unknown to me before. 

In dreams I saw my father's face aghast, 
And my dear mother's gentle eyes in tears. 
My conscience smote me sore, but I was 

dazed ; 
This, this was life indeed! I would return 
Anon to duty's path and to the fold — 
But Folly beckoned, and I followed her; 
Then of a sudden found I was submerged 
In debt upon the right hand and the left, 
And, penniless, I woke from the wild dream ! 

Startled, I sat me 'neath a tree's deep shade; 
Flung my last farthing to a mendicant, 
And bowed myself beneath a load of shame. 
The vast solemnity of London; concourse 



JBow JBelte 69 

Of myriad souls, surging in life's vain quest; 

The spell of eventide; the deep-toned chime; 

The bells of Bow Church, summoning to 
prayer, 

Its dragon glinted in the setting sun, 

Shot through my soul a pang of conster- 
nation ! 

11 Come, sinner, come, arise and come! 

' T is not too late ! 

' T is not too late ! 
For thee my tongue shall ne'er be dumb; 

I call and wait! 

I call and wait! 

"I call and wait! 

I call and wait! 
Bethink thee of thy precious soul! 
Come, come, and Christ shall make thee whole! 

'T is not too late! 

'T is not too late! 11 

An outcast and a prodigal, I thought 
Of my good father's counsels and his 
prayers ; 



70 3obn flfourraE's XanDfall 

Bethought me of my Saviour and my God; 
Rose as the darkness fell, hungry, forlorn, 
And took my way unto the Tabernacle. 

There the great Whitefield wrestled for my 

soul. 
I all abashed and contrite, crushed by sin, 
Lay prone until his fire-swept spirit made 
Contact with my dead self, as did the 

prophet 
Who lay out-stretched upon the widow's 

son 
And brought him back to life. "If there, 

perchance,' ' 
He cried, "be here some wanderer, sin- 
crushed 
And fearful of his God, let him arise 
And go unto his Father, and find peace!" 

Then like a mighty wind the Spirit swept 
My soul of chaff, and I was free ! In tears 
I humbly sought my place in the old life, 
Found welcome; took up, one by one, the 
threads 



Swept ffree ot (Jbaff 71 

Long ravelled. Toilsome and slow my 

debts were paid 
And I gave thanks that God had chosen me 
For blessing here, with bliss eternal after, 
The while so many, many He passed by. 
Such is His sovereign will and pleasure. He 
Doth mercy have on whom He will have 

mercy, 
"And whom He will He hardeneth. 



Swift fled 
The days in toil, evenings in converse sweet 
With those whom love of God had blessed. 

New zeal 
Filled all my thoughts and buried the dead 

past. 
A precious year was squandered, but I went 
No more upon the perilous incline 
That leads straight down to death, but 

soon I turned 
And tearful sought forgiveness and found 

life, 
Eager the brethren flocked to hear my word, 



72 3obn /fturrag's Xan&fall 

More vital grown with my new consecration. 
So widely sought, my heart swelled large 
with pride. 



Hushed was the assembly; I the favorite 

Lay preacher was expected. All arose 

To greet my coming. With my friend I sat 

Amid the audience. My heart was full 

Of lofty things I would show forth. At 

home 
With Churchman and Dissenter, scarce I 

knew 
To which I most belonged, welcomed by all. 
Mindful of Whitefield's admonition, I 
Ignoring non-essentials, sought to find 
A fundamental bond uniting all. 
Eager to move the people, I would speak 
This night to Baptists. 

Soon my wandering eye 
Caught the fair vision of a wondrous face. 
I was disturbed, I moved my seat, but still 
My fascinated eyes must seek again 
Her loveliness. "Who" I asked my friend 



Bli3a 73 

(Long had I known and loved him at the 

meetings) , 
"Is the fair damsel of the lily gown?" 
" It is my sister, and she hath desired 
To hear and meet thee. At the meeting's 

close 
Let me make each unto the other known." 
I made assent with some indifference, 
My thoughts being filled with consecrated 

things. 
I rose; I spoke and prayed with burning 

words ; 
All hearts were softened, by the Spirit 

moved. 

He introduced us. Ah, my fickle heart! 
What aileth thee? But yesterday wast cold ; 
Wouldst live austere ; wouldst die a celibate 
For God. Now art thou swept from thy 

strong moorings, 
Lost in the rush of waters! I went home 
Confounded. Could then women's loveliness 
So fill me with vague fears, with trembling 

hope? 



74 5obn dftutraE'e Xanfcfall 

Again we met, invited by a friend, 
And all too soon the winged hours fled. 
Her smile — ah, 't was the glowing of the 

dawn, 
Before whose joy the shadows flee away! 
About her flowed an atmosphere of love; 
Radiant with goodness, warm with sym- 
pathy 
For nature's children and for humankind. 
Her spirit, kin to all things beautiful, 
Congenial to all truth, did lightly soar 
On joyous wing along the upper air, 
Seeing intuitive the things of God, 
The while I delved laborious and slow. 

Suddenly my soul did fly to her 

With arms out-stretched in rapture, as to 

one 
Whom I had loved in long-forgotten worlds 
And lost ere while in darkling mists of earth, 
Fast melting now before the rising day. 
My pride was humbled. I who thought to 

lead 
Was cast sheer down from my high pinnacle 



Bli3a 75 

At the first utterance of her pure soul ! 
"Will you be at the meeting a week hence? " 
"I hope to come." Alas, how slow the 

days! 
How dread the fear her hand perchance 

was promised! 
I prayed, I struggled, I was mad with love ! 

*fhe evening came and vanished like a 

dream. 
For when she spoke it was as if the lyre 
With Orpheus' touch divine did breathe 

again. 
And when she laughed it was as in her voice 
The springtide rivulets were murmuring. 
Lustrous as cresset planets her soft eyes. 
Her glowing locks with rippling sunbeams 

shone. 

That night we walked together to her home. 
Then melted unawares the earth away 
From underneath my feet ; I trod on air ! 
Her step, gliding like some sweet melody, 
Or blush-rose petal on a summer stream, 



76 3obn /ifturras's XanDfall 

Held by my side along the happy way. 
I wondered that the passers did not hear 
The loud, tempestuous beating of my heart ! 
And when she laid her hand within my 

arm, 
Through all my being flowed a rapturous 

thrill, 
As when Aurora touches stony Memnon, 
And the cold, silent lips break into song! 

I could not longer wait, but told my love 
With all the ardor of my fervent soul. 
Then modestly did she at length confess 
That she was free, but earnestly protested 
That I should seek one worthier my love. 
Then the wild torrent of impetuous youth 
Poured my hot soul once more into my plea. 

Her answer lifted me clean off the earth 
Into her own celestial atmosphere ; 
Nor shall eternity her tones forget — 
As if the distant, sweet- voiced silver bells 
Of some far, hallowed cloister called to 

prayer: 
"I have no father on the earth to give 



3Slf3a 77 

My hand in marriage, therefore I will ask 
My Heavenly Father's will, and do thou 

likewise. 
Whatso His Sovereign Wisdom shall decree 
Will I accept, unto His will resigned." 

Too soon, too soon we reached her grand- 
sire's door — 
A man of wealth, a profligate, a churl — 
Whose threshold Whitefield's follower ne'er 
might cross. 

How cruel and how irksome dragged the 

week, 
The while I prayed as never I prayed before ! 
And when we met again I told my love, 
And how with week-long wrestling I had 

plead : 
"I prayed as man had never prayed before; 
Besought that Heaven would lead me 

graciously ; 
And as I knelt thy face shone everywhere 
Before mine eyes; yea, even the mercy 

seat 



78 5obn {ttsmia&s XanDfall 

Did it obscure with a new glory streaming 
From thy dear form and filling all the 

heavens. 
I could not keep my wandering thoughts 

on God, 
For very love of thee, so was I led. 
And as my soul did thread its eager way 
Along the parting ranks of bright immortals, 
Prostrate to fall before the mercy seat, 
Begging the Omnipotent to give me thee, 
Behold! each angel's face grew more like 

thine ; 
More radiant shone the innumerable throng, 
Until the throne was haloed with thy 

beauty — 
And so my prayers were answered, my 

Eliza!" 

Then made she answer, and her voice did 

breathe 
Like the sweet chiming of far wedding bells, 
And her eyes glowed as the soft virgin light 
Of the young crescent when in balmy June 
The twilight air is redolent of bloom : 



ail for %ove 79 

"I prayed, and as I prayed I saw a way 
Embowered in roses, and 't was passing fair, 
As 't were a path leading through Paradise; 
And therein, hand in hand, a youth and 

maiden. 
The way led through a region of delight; 
The air delicious, vocal with sweet song. 
Inseparable walked they till they came 
Where 'neath the sunlight loomed an ebon 

cloud, 

Threatening and vast. Beneath it crept 

the way, 

And further of the twain I naught could 
see. 

Beyond the gloom there glowed a golden 
light, 

And I beheld the maid go forth alone. 

Alone she passed through fields of asphodel, 

Till she in light ineffable was lost. 

I know not what the shadow may portend; 

I know not why the maid went forth alone,' 

But, hand in hand, they walked in Para- 
dise — 

John, my beloved, I will go with thee! 



80 Jobn flfcurraE's XanDfall 

Whether our pathway lead through Para- 
dise, 

Or through the shadow of that fearsome • 
cloud, 

Thou hast my heart, my hand I lay in 
thine!" 

So plighted we our troth before High 

Heaven, 
The moon a witness and the seal a kiss — 
A kiss ecstatic as immortal bliss ! 

" Give up this hypocrite, this fortune hunter, 
Or not a farthing of my wealth shalt thou 
Inherit. Round his name foul rumors cling 
Like noisome serpents. Prithee, read this 

letter!" 
Thus spake Eliza's grandsire. In her hand 
She took the sheet, writ by her younger 

brother, 
Brimming with slander poured upon my 

head. 
With crimson cheek she read, then gently 

spake : 



HU foe Xox>e 81 

"O venerable sire, I do entreat 

Thy patience, and I pray that thou wilt see 

And speak with this most worthy man 

before 
Thou givest ear to this invidious tale, 
Which, me beseems, is writ thy mind to 

poison. 
John Murray is an honest man, and loves 
Me with a love as pure, as strong as man 
E'er gave to woman, and my heart is his. 
The coming years shall know and prove this 

man 
A chosen vessel, favored of the Lord, 
To bear the precious incense of His truth 
Afar. He is a man of lofty soul 
And true. Whate'er his lot, it shall be 

mine. 
Could I believe aught else of him I would 
Obey thy wish. E'en now I fain would 

wait 
Upon thine age and serve thine every need ; 
For many a year thy roof hath sheltered 

me. 
I pray thee patience!" 



82 3obn dfturrag's XanDfall 

Here the old man, flushed 
With anger, cried: "This will not do! 

Abide 
Thou in thy room, and three days hence do 

thou 
Give me thy final answer, for I swear 
If thou discard him not, I leave thee naught, 
Nay, not one farthing. There be worthier 

youths 
Who fain would win thee ! " — and he left the 

room. 

Three days of agony were hers and mine; 
For she had written by a faithful hand 
To tell me of her trial. The third day 
He summoned her and sternly once again 
Bade her between his fortune and my 

love 
Make choice. Then strong in love un- 
daunted, she 
Declared her joy that she might prove me 

true. 
"My love," she cried, "may not be bought 

or sold ; 



?Ul for %ove 83 

Nor have I wavered; nay, not all thy 

wealth 
Shall count a feather's weight! Sir, I 

renounce 
Thy fortune for his love ! Thou hast mine 

answer." 

Darkening with passion, his last will he 

clutched 
And cast it to the flames; and so was lost 
For love her patrimony; and the churl 
Anon bequeathed by a new instrument 
A thousand pounds unto the crafty scribe 
Who had intrigued mine honor to defame. 

" Truelove, for thee I pine, 

My heart, my life is thine; 

I scorn his gold! 

" What 's all his wealth to me, 

Parted from thee ? 
Raiment of silken sheen, 
Jewels to crown a queen 
Were but as dross to me, 

Parted from thee! 



84 5obn /Iburras's SLanDtall 

11 Truelove, thou art so dear 
Naught, naught my heart should fear, 

Were I with thee! 
Proud were I at thy side, 
Scorning the scorner's pride — 

In poverty! 

11 What be these lands to me, 

Parted from thee? 
Scorn I his deeds, his gold; 
My love may not be sold 

For luxury! 

"Perish his glittering hoard! 
Thou shalt alone be lord 

Of my free heart. 
Mine eyes, rebuke these tears! 
Banish, heart, thy fears! 

Fail not thy part! 

11 Truelove, thou art my all; 
Naught shall my heart appall, 

When thou art near! 
My love is thine alone; 
For thee I 'd lose a throne, 

Nor shed a tear. 



fl&E %ove fie fllMne 85 

" Never from thee to roam; 
Thy love my happy home! — 
How pines my aching heart 

In misery! 
Ah, how thy step I miss! 
What rapture is thy kiss! 
Earth had no higher bliss, 

Were I with thee!" 

Ah, happy, happy me this heart to win! 
And happy glowed the days that were in 

store ; 
Dreams as delightful as the breath of 

Heaven. 
What were the wealth of worlds to love so 

strong ! 
She, closely guarded, being not yet of 

age, 
Was constant as the day, though many 

wooed, 
And sought her hand in marriage, but in 

vain. 
Now did her grandsire urge her to accept 
A suitor of his choice ; anon a note 



86 5obn /Ifcurrai2'0 Xanfcfall 

Forged by her recreant brother, bade me 

cease 
From waiting, and abandon hope. With 

scorn 
This she denounced, and at our weekly 

tryst — 
She was permitted once a week to visit 
Beneath good Mercy Allen's friendly roof — 
Bade me hold fast my faith in God and her. 

My joy was full when oft before the dawn 
I waited at her door to accompany her 
Through the dim streets — strangely in- 
different 
They seemed unto her beauty and our 

bliss — 
To the young peopled meetings where the 

day 
Was ushered in with prayer and praise, as 

led 
The saintly Whitefield to the realms of light. 
(So mixed love's ardor with religious zeal — 
Oh, how delightful youth's enthusiasm! — 
That an o'er zealous watchman, on patrol, 



jfflbE Xo\>e 1te rtlMne 87 

Arrested me one morn as a night-prowler, 
But to my protestations soon gave ear.) 
There did our souls float heavenward side 

by side, 
Rapt unto regions of delight and wonder ; 
All unto each, twin spirits blissful soaring — 
Too brief, alas, the joy! earthward descend- 
ing, 
Parted we mournful at her envious door. 

A twelvemonth followed — if what seemed 
years 

Were months. — Now rising hope, now dark- 
ling fear 

Haunted my path. 

'T was in the blush of May 

One morn her brother William, our fast 
friend, 

To soothe my ruffled spirits, led me 
forth 

And we were strolling through the country- 
side. 

The new-born day was redolent of bloom, 



88 5obn flfturraE's XanDfall 

The hedges breathing tuneful roundelays, 
And all things seemed to wait a crowning 
joy! 

Approached afar a maiden; as she came, 
The air more fragrant breathed, the song 

more sweet. 
Lo, 't was Eliza, bearing in her hand 
A little parcel, pitifully small. . 
With this — her all — her childhood's home 

she fled 
On this sweet day of her majority, 
Refuge to seek beneath her brother's roof. 

We turned and went with her ; my heart did 

leap 
With joy that I so soon should call her mine ! 
But with soft eyes of love she tenderly 
Reproved my eagerness : "I would not have 
It seem that I had left a parent's roof 
E'en for the refuge of a husband's arms. 
Nor will I burden thee, my brother, I 
Am skilful with my needle to provide 
My simple needs." 



flftg TLove te flhine 89 

The tortoise months crept by 
Till, love-illumined, half a year had passed. 
Then did the blissfulest youth beneath the 

sun 
Lead to the altar the most winsome bride 
That sun e'er shone upon, her rippling hair 
Golden beneath a veil so tenuous 
It seemed some radiant seraph's aureole, 
Or moonbeam envious of her loveliness. 
There bloomed no flower on earth or in the 

heavens 
That could compare that day with my 

Eliza; 
The breath of orange flowers in her hair, 
And in her hand a lily. On her breast 
A happy rose lay dreaming, lost in bliss. 
Around her clung a virgin robe of white, 
Raiment of lilies, that had swept the 

ground 
Had not her sister graces held the train. 
Joy strewed before her roses ; voice of birds 
Saluted her with joyous madrigals. 
Radiant with blessing, breathing melody, 
She seemed to move within a charmed air. 



go 5obn Abuttal's XanDfall 



Guests of her brother's hospitality, 
Sometime abode we from the honeymoon. 
Success in business followed and a home 
Filled with the light of love, with gardens 

wreathed, 
And Heaven was glad to see our happiness. 
There the sweet presence of Eliza filled 
Our dwelling with the fragrance of a bower, 
Where summer breathes, and bird-song- 

joyance flows; 
And everywhere touches of grace did bloom, 
Born of the sunlight of her radiant soul. 
And unto us a son was given, whose 

coming 
Opened the fountains of a love unknown, 
Undreamed before, sprung from celestial 

heights ; 
And little hands our mutual hearts inwove 
With ever dearer bonds. Our cup was full. 



One peaceful Sabbath, in ecstatic frame, 
Fresh from partaking of the Sacrament, 
Leaving the Tabernacle, where the gates 



©n flfcoorsftelD 91 

Of Heaven seemed opening with wide wel- 
come, I 
Rejoicing, as among the elect, strolled forth 
On Moorsfields common. There a man 

was preaching, 
As was the accustomed practice of the day, 
Unto a crowd of listeners beneath 
A tree's wide shade, rapt in attention. 

"Sir," 
I asked a passer-by, "what man is this 
That doth so draw the people unto him?" 
" This is one Relly," answered he disdainful, 
"Who doth delude his hearers with the hope 
Of final bliss for all, when sin hath reaped 
Full harvest here of pleasure. Curse the 

knave ! 
A Welshman who, poor fool, would stir up 

London. 
Damnable heresy, forsooth, he spreads 
Among the people; hear the prating fool!" 

Fell on my ears the words: "Inseparable 
The Gospel from reproach. I may not shun 
it. 



92 5obn /nburras's XanOfall 

Therefore, rejoicing, I with open arms 
Meet it, and to the world am crucified! 

gracious Union, wondrous Love ! Let him 
Who is thence fallen say: 'Mine enemy, 
Rejoice thou not against me, for though I 
Be fallen, yet through Christ I shall arise !'" 

1 listened but a moment and passed on. 
Vehement I denounced him as blasphemer 
And was exceeding mad that he should open 
Wide the broad floodgates of the world to 

sin. 

Bandied about were rumors in the Church 
Of this dark hypocrite who in the name 
Of God was doing Satan's work. Methought 
I would have rendered service to the Lord 
Could I the villain's life have taken; base 
Lurer of weaklings down to sure perdition. 

Early and late I sought the Tabernacle 
And, as I passed along the crowded streets, 
My heart swelled with the thought that 
God had snatched 



TLcavce from an ©ID journal 93 

Me, as a brand from the burning, out of these 
Vast multitudes predestined to destruction ! 

Here! read these leaves, torn from my 

journal, writ 
When I was young, driven with a narrow zeal 
'Gainst them whom I did hold accursed of 

God, 
Disciples of that Soul-destroyer, Relly. 
Read how the mask from my self-righteous 

soul 
Was torn by the gentle hand of one whom I 
Went forth to snatch from deadly heresy. 1 

1 Leaves from an old Journal follow: 

"I had frequently been solicited to hear him, merely 
that I might be an ear-witness of what was termed his 
blasphemies; but I arrogantly said, I would not be a 
murderer of time. Thus I passed on for a number of years, 
hearing all manner of evil said of Mr. Relly, and I believed 
all I heard, while every day augmented the inveterate 
hatred which I bore against this man and his adherents. 

"When a worshipping brother or sister belonging to the 
communion, which I considered as honored by the appro- 
bation of Deity, was drawn from the paths of rectitude by 
this deceiver, the anguish of my spirit was indescribable; 
. . . one instance in particular pierced me to the soul. 



94 Jobn Abuttal's xan&fall 

So Paul of Tarsus was exceeding mad 
Against the pure disciples of the Way, 
Whom he, with fiery zeal, did persecute, 
Till from the heavens a Voice smote low 

his pride, 
And humbled him with light ineffable. 

"A young lady of irreproachable life, remarkable for 
piety, and highly respected by the Tabernacle, congrega- 
tion and church, of which I was a devout member, had 
been ensnared. To my great astonishment, she had been 
induced to hear, and having heard she had embraced, the 
pernicious errors of this detestable babbler; she was be- 
come a believer, a firm and unwavering believer, of uni- 
versal redemption ! Horrible ! Most horrible ! 

"So high an opinion was entertained of my talents, 
having myself been a teacher among the Methodists, and 
Such was my standing in Mr. Whitefield's church, that I 
was deemed adequate to reclaim this wanderer, and I was 
strongly urged to the pursuit. The poor deluded young 
woman was abundantly worthy our most arduous efforts. 
He that converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall 
save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 
Thus I thought, thus I said, and, swelled with a high idea 
of my own importance, I went, accompanied by two or 
three of my Christian brethren, to see, to converse with, 
and, if need were, to admonish this simple, weak, but, as 
we heretofore believed, meritorious female; fully persuaded 



1bail, ipropbetess 95 

Hail, prophetess of All-Redeeming Love I 
How rapturous the song of choirs above, 
When thou didst lead thy captive to Love's feet, 
Turned from the night by thine insistence sweet! 

that I could easily convince her of her errors, I entertained 
no doubt respecting the result of my undertaking. 

"The young lady received us with much condescen- 
sion and kindness, while, as I glanced my eye upon her 
fine countenance, beaming with intelligence, mingled 
pity and contempt grew in my bosom. After the first 
ceremonies, we sat for some time silent; at length I drew 
up a heavy sigh, uttered a pathetic sentiment relative to the 
deplorable condition of those who live and die in unbelief, 
and concluded a violent declamation, by pronouncing 
with great earnestness, 'he that believeth not shall be damned. 1 

"'And pray, Sir,' said the young lady with great sweet- 
ness, ' Pray, Sir, for not believing what is the unbeliever 
damned?' 

" ' For not believing what? Why, he is damned for not 
believing. 1 

"'But, my dear Sir, I asked what was that, which he 
did not believe, for which he was damned?' 

" ' Why, for not believing in Jesus Christ to be sure.' 

"'Do you mean to say that unbelievers are damned for 
not believing there was such a person as Jesus Christ?' 

"'No, I do not; a man may believe there was such a 
person, and yet be damned.' 



96 $obn /UMtrras's Uan&fall 

O nameless one, thou shall remembered be 
With reverence by a long posterity! — 
A vestal virgin of the flame divine, 
On whose pure altar truth did clearly shine. 

'"What then, Sir, must he believe, in order to avoid 
damnation?' 

"'Why, he must believe, that Jesus Christ is a com- 
plete Saviour.' 

"'Well, suppose he were to believe, that Jesus Christ 
was the complete Saviour of others, would this belief save 
him?' 

'"No, he must believe that Jesus Christ is his complete 
Saviour; every individual must believe for himself, that 
Jesus Christ is his complete Saviour. 1 

'"Why, Sir, is Jesus Christ the Saviour of any un- 
believer?' 

"'No, Madam.' 

"'Why then should any unbeliever believe that Christ 
Jesus is his Saviour, if he is not his Saviour? 

"'I say he is not the Saviour of any one until he 
believes.' 

" 'Then if Jesus be not the Saviour of the unbeliever until 
he believes, the unbeliever is called upon to believe a lie. 
It appears tq me, Sir, that Jesus is the complete Saviour 
of unbelievers, and that unbelievers are called upon to 
believe the truth, and that by believing, they are saved in 
their own apprehension, saved from all those dreadful fears, 



Ibatl, propbetess 97 

Lead thou the sisterhood, in this far day, 
Of those who fain would show the fairer way 
Unto His feet — with intuition clear — 
Who loosed the fetters of the slaves of fear! 

which are consequent upon unbelief, upon a state of con- 
scious condemnation. 1 

"'No, Madam, you are dreadfully, I trust not fatally, 
misled. Jesus never was, nor never will be, the Saviour 
of any unbeliever.' 

'"Do you think he is your Saviour, Sir?' 

"'I hope he is.' 

"'Were you always a believer, Sir?' 

'"No, Madam.' 

'"Then you were once an unbeliever, that is, you once 
believed that Jesus was not your Saviour. Now, as you 
say, he never was nor never will be, the Saviour of any 
unbeliever, as you were once an unbeliever, he can never 
be your Saviour.' 

"'He never was my Saviour till I believed.' 

"'Did he never die for you till you believed, Sir?' 

" Here I was extremely embarrassed, and most devoutly 
wished myself out of her habitation. I sighed bitterly, 
expressed deep commiseration for those deluded souls who 
had nothing but head knowledge; drew out my watch, 
discovered it was late, and, recollecting an engagement, 
observed it was time to take leave. 

"I was extremely mortified; the young lady observed 
7 



98 5obn diMirravra UanDfall 

One day a manuscript was given me. 

The writer bid me read it ere 't was 

printed — 
An attack upon a book called Union, writ 
By this corrupter, Relly. Would I say 
How it appealed tome? As I did read 
I grew impatient and would see this Union 
Which my friend seemed so weak to over- 
throw. 
Anon, by chance, the book came to my 

hands, 
For I was loth to buy it openly, 
And as I, eager, read it, I was rilled 

my confusion, but was too generous to pursue her triumph. 
I arose to depart, the company arose; she urged us to tarry, 
addressed each one of us in language of kindness; her 
countenance seemed to wear a resemblance of the Heaven 
which she contemplated — it was stamped with benignity, 
and when she bade us adieu, she enriched us with her good 
wishes. 

"I suspected that my religious brethren saw she had the 
advantage of me, and I felt that her remarks were indeed 
unanswerable; my pride was hurt, and I determined to 
ascertain the exact sentiments of my associates respecting 
this interview. ' Poor soul , ' said I, 4 she is far gone in error.' 
'True,' said they, 'but she is, notwithstanding, a very 



Cbrigt, tbe Hpple=Gree 99 

With strong desire to hear the writer ; stole 
By night unto his humble place of worship — 
Where once before, after long years of 

scorn, 
I ventured, by my curiosity 
Impelled; but hatred and contempt had 

closed 
Mine ears and understanding to his plea. 
Went too Eliza. Dear Eliza! There 
The heavens were opened to our enraptured 

eyes. 
There saw we Christ, of all earth's trees 

alone 

sensible woman.' 'Ay, ay,' thought I, ' they have assuredly 
discovered that she has proved too mighty for me.' 'Yes,' 
said I, ' she has a great deal of head-knowledge, but yet she 
may be a lost, damned soul.' 'I hope not,' returned one 
of my friends, 'she is a very good young woman.' 

"I saw, and it was with extreme chagrin, that the event 
of this visit had depreciated me in the opinion of my 
companions; but I could do no more than censure and 
condemn, solemnly observing, it was better to avoid con- 
versing with these apostates and it would be judicious 
never to associate with them upon any occasion. 

"From this period I, myself, carefully avoided every 
Universalist, and most cordially did I hate them." 



ioo 5obn /ifturraE's XanDfall 

The Good Tree, that corrupt fruit cannot 

bear; 
Under whose shadow man may rest secure — 
The Blessed Apple-Tree, feeding mankind; 
Bearing alone good fruit 'mid evil trees; 
Bearing good fruit for all our sin-cursed 

race, 
Whom evil hath corrupted and made 

barren. z 

1 An old hymn, from the collection printed by James 
Springer, New London, Conn., a.d., 1800. 

Christ, the Apple-Tree 

" The Tree of Life my soul hath seen, 
Laden with fruit, and always green; 
The trees of nature fruitless be, 
Compared with Christ, the Apple-Tree. 

" This beauty doth all things excell, 
By faith I know but ne'er can tell 
The glory which I now can see 
In Jesus Christ, the Apple-Tree. 

" For happiness I long have sought, 
And pleasure dearly have I bought; ' 
I miss'd for all, but now I see 
'T is found in Christ, the Apple-Tree. 



TUnicm ioi 

Mankind the family of God we saw, 
And on His throne beheld the World- 
Redeemer, 
With him eternally at one all poor 
Victims of sorrow, prisoners of sin, 
Inseparable from His heart of love — 
The Son of God in union with all men, 
Bought with His precious blood on Calvary. 

" I 'm weary with my former toil, 
Here I shall sit and rest awhile ; 
Under the shadow I shall be 
Of Jesus Christ, the Apple-Tree. 

" With great delight I '11 make my stay, 
There 's none shall fright my soul away; 
Among the sons of men I see 
There 's none like Christ, the Apple-Tree. 

"7 7/ sit and eat this fruit divine, 
It cheers my heart like spiritual wine; 
And now this fruit is sweet to me, 
That grows on Christ, the Apple-Tree. 

" This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, 
It keeps my dying faith alive ; 
Which makes my soul in haste to be 
With Jesus Christ, the Apple-Tree ." 



102 3obn dfcurraB's Xanfcfall 

Union mysterious of the Lord of Grace 
With every son of Adam's fallen race! 

So firm the bond, indissolubly strong. 

It ne'er shall be destroyed by sin or wrong. 

Grief may not drown it, nor the tempest break, 
Nor powers of Hell the mighty compact shake. 

For love of man He left His throne above ; 
For love He wrought and died — Ah, wondrous 
love! 

Upon Himself He took the world's vast sin; 
Empty His heart, till all were gathered in! 

With us united in the bonds of love, 

With Him He bears us to His realms above; 

Whatever is His to us is freely given — 

One in the pains of Earth and bliss of Heaven. 

My pride was humbled by the vision: I 
The saint, but one of God's great family? 
How vain my pride ; how vast the might of 
Love! 



H afloweret Sweet 103 

Then saw I, in the light of Calvary, 

Shrivel my old solicitude for self; 

Saw Love more wide, more vast abound, 

all-strong 
To bear the sin and sorrow of the world; 
Saw Love unbought, Love unconditioned, 

free — 
Not men alone the quest, not men, but 

Man — 
Inseverable saw I God and Man. 

Then, like the rapture of awakening spring, 
Eliza's voice breathed forth its melody, 
Filling our home with her sweet soul's de- 
light: 

Frowning forests hid the sun, 

The sun that burns for all; 
The path of Hope, in light begun. 

Lay buried J neath a pall. 

Beneath the snow a floweret sweet 

Was dreaming of the day 
When springtide light its bloom should greet 

With long-forgotten ray. 



104 3obn rt&urras's Xan&fall 

Hope, scenting fragrance in the gloom, 
Pressed on with hastening wing — 

Of this sweet blossom's heartening bloom 
My gladdened soul would sing. 

Little flower , little flower! 

Thy breath is wafted wide; 
The murk and gloom have felt thy power. 

And may not long abide. 

Our visits ever and anon repeated, 

'T was noised soon throughout the church, 

and I 
Was summoned to the Tabernacle, there 
To give account of my detestable 
And deadly heresy to all the band 
Of Whitefield's followers. In gloomy ranks 
And solemn mien they sat, and bade me 

tell 
If I in truth had listened to that monster; 
Had I been snared? Then I stood forth and 

said: 

"Reverend and holy men of God, give ear 
A little space, while I declare the faith 






3obn /Bburrag's Defence 105 

For which ye would condemn and cast me 

out. 
Ye ask me to keep silent, to restrain 
My feet from following in this new light. 
My feet I may not shackle at your hest, 
Where God hath set me free, nor silent keep. 

"As I, spell-bound, have listened unto him, 
This man whom ye despise hath shed new 

light 
Upon the word of God, illumining 
The mystery, the wonders of His grace. 

"As waxed the cloud before the prophet's 

eyes, 
At first no bigger than his hand, until 
With promise of the blessed rain it filled 
The heavens, life pouring on the parched 

earth, 
So grew the Love Divine before mine eyes, 
And my heart swelled with wonder and 

delight. 

"Brethren, the Holy One of God may not 
Be limited by our too narrow bounds! 



106 3obn flburraE's XanDfall 

His ways are not as our ways. As the 
heavens 

Are high above the earth, so are His 
thoughts 

High above ours. Those blessed out- 
stretched arms, 

Heedless of pain, if they might reach man's 
heart, 

Embraced on Calvary all humankind; 

Nor will He from His labors rest until 

The travail of His soul be satisfied. 

"My brethren, there be deeper depths in 
Love 

Than we have sounded. The world's sin 
doth cry 

For One that knoweth not defeat; for One 

Who shall not be discouraged when the 
clouds 

Of evil hide the sun, and break in fury 

On His bowed head; who, having under- 
taken, 

Will yet perform, whose love out-lasteth sin. 

Where sin abounds, grace doth much 
more abound! 



3obn /fcurrag's Defence 107 

"Ye say He died for the elect. Aye, verily! 
Some be elect to lead the way; to labor 
Full time in the vineyard; some at the 

eleventh hour 
Service to give; but on them all His grace 
Bestoweth equal bounty, shaming the 

sluggard. 
And they who late begin lose of His joy. 

"From the dark thought that God would 
reprobate 

A sin-cursed soul to aimless fires eternal, 

As foreordained by the Almighty's stern 
decree, 

For His own glory, shrinks my soul aghast ! 

(Hath Satan aught conceived of deeper 
dye?) 

Or that the Spotless One of Calvary, 

Whose we all be, who bare all in His heart, 

Which brake with all our sorrows and 
despair, 

Should suffer shameful death for all man- 
kind 

And fail of His high purpose, with a remnant 



108 3obn dfcurraE's Xanfcfall 

Only out-snatched from the world-wide 

wreck of sin, 
Staggers my understanding and my faith, 
And heaps discomfiture upon His shame. 

"How is He Saviour, pray, who cannot 

save; 
Who cannot light the dungeon of despair, 
Nor with Love's steady glow the prisoner 

wake; 
Who cannot draw the sin-blind soul to him, 
As He hath promised all mankind to draw? 
How may the sinner call Him Saviour who 
Shall sit in judgment on that last great 

day 
To hurl him down to everlasting woe? 
Shall he bear witness to a lie; or shall 
[He save himself, ignoring Calvary? 

"Yea, when the Son of God shall be revealed 
In flaming fire, with all His mighty angels, 
Then shall He vengeance take on them that 

know 
Not God, obeying not the Gospel. Love 



5obn dfcurraE's Defence 109 

Despised will vengeance take, but how? 

Will Love 
Cast down the sinner to the deeper depths 
Of sin eternal? Will He not rather choose 
The vengeance Joseph heaped upon his 

brethren, 
They who wrought him evil; who thought 

scorn 
To bow before him, as his dream foretold; 
When he, having rescued them from famine 

brought 
Them down to Egypt, where they saw him 

robed 
In splendor — their own blood ! — and gladly 

bowed, 
Making obeisance low, proud of their kin? 
Such is the vengeance the Redeemer takes; 
Thus will He triumph over every foe ! 

"For saith the Lord: I by myself have 
sworn ; 

My word hath gone forth and will not re- 
turn, 

That every knee to Me shall bow, that every 



no 5obn Abuttals XanDfall 

Tongue shall confess, in that day surely say : 
I in the Lord have righteousness and 
strength. 

"Be not deceived; on Him hath been be- 
stowed 
All power that is on earth and in the 

heavens ; 
Nor is He bounded by the dusky stream, 
Nor swerved by terrors of the wilderness; 
And not in vain shall His all-searching eye 
Seek till He find His wayward, sin-hurt 

sheep ! 

"There is a Gospel that speaks peace and 

joy 
Unto the few that have their Saviour found, 
But to earth's teeming multitudes disaster 
Bodes. Another, Love's true Gospel, holds 
Each soul of man so precious, so divine, 
Time may not quench the spark, nor all the 

wastes 
Of vast eternity; nor sin destroy 
The heritage of one for whom Christ died. 



3obn dfcurraE's 2>efence in 

"God no taskmaster is, exacting service 
In payment for His love. Ah, nay! 
The measure of His love is human need. 
When turns the prodigal to Him, though 

day 
Be wellnigh spent in sin, at eventide 
He goeth forth to meet him, in His hands 
Love's largess; the dead past forgot in 

joy 
That His lost child unto himself hath come. 
Our sins forgiven, He doth blot them out — 
Lost in the cycles of eternal bliss ! 

"Brethren, I counsel you beware, lest ye 
Be found fighting against the Lord of 

Hosts — 
The hosts of Love that breathe in summer 

winds 
And in the tempest's clarion voice; that 

glow 
In sparkling dew-drop and in burning star, 
And in the blaze of dazzling seraphim ; 
That fill the earth and heavens, yea, the 

abyss of Hell, 



ii2 3obn jfliburrafi'0 UanDtall 

Marshalled for war ! For Love is Lord of 

all, 
And must at last prevail o'er every foe! 

"How passing strange, how grievous that 

the church 
Should brand me heretic and infidel; 
Me from her household excommunicate, 
Because I hold that Christ for all hath 

died; 
That all men on the Cross were dead with 

Him, 
With Him to rise, with Him in glory reign; 
Because I dare His love to claim for all, 
Love unconditioned for all humankind, 
The love sin may not conquer; that all 

men 
God's offspring be, and brothers all man- 
kind — 
That not in vain He died, but unto Him 
All men, all creatures in the earth and 

heavens 
Shall flee for refuge, and shall refuge find 
In His great heart — ye call me infidel! 



3obn /fcutcaB's defence 113 

"Brethren, this man whom ye despise hath 

opened 
To my astonished eyes a new world! 5Tea, 

A world whose grandeur too resplendent is 
For mortal vision; whose stupendous whole 
We may not grasp; beyond the reach of 

sense, 
Save in disjointed fragments dimly seen — 
Vouchsafed to comfort woe, faith to inspire 
A world where all things move harmonious ; 
Where Discord dead, his appointed work 

accomplished, 
Order divine rules evermore; whose airs 
Breathe joy antiphonal from soul to soul; 
And man, redeemed, sings universal praise. 

"Nay, my beloved brethren, could ye turn 

My back upon the vision I have seen, 

Or should it fade from sight, as fades a 

dream, 
I should of all men be most miserable. 
For I have followed Relly unto heights 
From whose commanding crest I did be- 
hold— 

8 



ii4 ^obn d&urraB'g lanDtall 

As Moses from high Pisgah Canaan saw — 
A new world opening to my enraptured eyes. 
May God be praised, the God of Light and 
Love!" 

Sing to the Lord of Light and Love 

A noble song of praise ; 
Sing with rejoicing hosts above 

The joy that fills our days ! 

The travail of the world is long, 
And long the blight of sin ; 

But Love, Almighty Love is strong, 
And Love at last shall win I 

His light outshining sun and star, 
Outlasting Earth and Time, 

Shall banish error's ?iiglit afar 
And bring the day sublime. 

His love in triumph onward flows 

As flows the mighty sea ; 
Victorious over all Hi s foes, 
Filling eternity ! 



/ 
■ 

A of 

A in 

ruin ! 



u6 5obn flfcurrag's Xanfcfall 



Inseparable walked they till they came 
Where 'neath the sunlight loomed an ebon 

cloud, 
Threatening and vast. Beneath it crept the 

way. 



On that last morn to me she faintly clung; 
Each cruel throe my heart with anguish 

wrung ; 
Forspent she laid her head upon my breast, 
Wearied with pain, and sighed to be at rest. 
I hung upon each halted, fleeting breath, 
Chilled by the shadow of the wings of 

Death. 
Hand clasped in hand, we neared the 

stream's dark brink, 
In whose deep waters she began to sink. 

One look of love unutterable cast 

She on my tears — one look; it was the last. 

Then the cold river claimed her for his 

own, 
And her pure spirit from my arms had 

flown. 



1Tn tbe TOne=iPre50 Hlone 117 

Cold grew the hand that lay so still in mine 
Day was no more; my light had ceased to 
shine ! 

Eliza, O Eliza, without thee 

My life is but an empty, storm-swept sea 

Whose angry billows have gone over me ! 

My light is darkness and my hope despair, 

My life in ruins! All that was so fair 

Is quenched in utter gloom, and the failing 

sun, 
Before the noon-tide hour, his course hath 

run. 

From tribulation whither shall I flee, 
Beset, beleaguered round with misery! 
My troubles spring as sparks^that mount 
the sky, 
As grass for multitude about my feet. 
The heavens are brass, they heed not 
when I cry; 
For me no pity on the mercy seat ! 
Ah, woe is me that ever I was born! 
Now breaks my heart, with bitter anguish 
torn. 



us 3obn .flfeurraB's XanDtall 

Whither shall I from His hard presence 

flee? 
I will escape in the tumult of the sea, 
Where to the angry sky hoarse trumpets 

roar; 
Where fierce gales lash the deep from shore 

to shore. 
My back I turn upon my native land; 
Reckless I haste me to the western strand; 
With broad Atlantic wastes far-stretched 

between, 
Perchance I may forget what might have 

been. 
There will I lose myself in wilds unknown, 
Where savage man and wolf and panther 

roam, 
Far, far away from kindred, love, and 

home — 
"Home!" "Cruel mockery!" my heart 

makes moan, 
While I, without the accustomed casement, 
! gaze 

To see strange forms around my hearth- 
stone-blaze — 



1Tn tbe limine sprees ?Uone 119 

Beside that hearth sweet converse did we 

hold, 
Our grief and care shut out, the night,, the 

cold. 
Now pause I here upon the jarring street — 
How crushed my heart, how chained my 

aimless feet! 

"And in that upper room one morn the 
light 

Our firstborn saw, our joy, our souls' de- 
light— 

From that dark chamber, ere the year was 
dead, 

Our hearts' desire to sun-lit fields had fled; 

The tie that knit us to the years to come, 

Was rudely torn — for us his lips were 
dumb. 

Now, through immortal gardens, wreathed 
with joy, 

With glory crowned, she leads my happy 
boy — 

And I, shut out, in this dark world below, 

Grapple with woe! 



120 ^obn /tourrag's Xanfcfall 

Thy judgments stagger me; 

God, Thy hand is heavy, I would flee; 
Forget my vows, Thy service, and be 

free! 
Ah, what is home, bereft of wife and child? 
And what is native land, with conscience 

bound? 

1 flee the face of man, 
The church's ban, 

Lofty contempt and withering scorn 
Of those that called me "Brother," borne 
As bears the felon his polluted name, 
Branded with shame, 
The tumult and relentless wrath 
That long have dogged my path — 
I flee it all; I care not, know not where, 
So heavy is the weight of my despair, 
If but oblivion might bury me, 
A wreck bewildered, swallowed of the 
sea! 



I hated life. A debtor's prison mine, 
Through the malevolence of enemies, 



1Tn ;fi3onDs 121 

Who threatened loathsome Newgate as my 

goal. 
All night I paced my prison floor alone, 
Grieving and desperate. All joy was fled; 
With grief distraught, eager with mine own 

hand 
My life to end, with conscience fought I; 

strove 
To justify the deed ; in frenzy called 
On death to set me free, to end my shame. 

While thus I grovelled in despair, behold! 
Eliza, all transfigured, stood before me, 
And with soft eyes of pity, love-suffused, 
Bade me arise, and patient wait for God. 
And, as she vanished, fell a wondrous calm 
Upon my soul, and day broke on the dark- 
ness. 

Lo, then, a wonder! for not many days 
Had flown, when to my rescue friendship 

came — 
Sole of all friends, her brother; in his hand 
A parchment setting forth through inter- 
cession 



122 3obn Abuttals landfall 

Of his true love, my debts were cancelled 

all— 
Clean blotted out, as was the world's vast 

debt 
On Calvary, and humankind set free. 
I was astounded; would not have him 

bound 
For my redemption ; but he bid me eat 
And drink, for I was famished; bid me 

follow, 
For he was fain to set me on my feet. 

So I did thrive in business, and my kin- 
dred 
Would make for me the semblance of a 

home. 
Again did fortune woo me with her smiles, 
Again my garden breathed her winsome 

fragrance ; 
'T was but in vain, for ever in mine ear 
Whispered a Voice that drave me oversea, 
I cared not whither, and I knew not 

why. 
And so again the tempest swept my soul ! 



JEnfllanD, farewell 123 



Pleading James Roily urged: "0 John, be- 
hold 

How blest are we to whom the Lord hath 
shown 

Truth as it is in Jesus! Dost thou dare 

Hide this so great a light beneath a bushel ! 

Dost thou not hear the Saviour calling 
thee 

To bear the comfort of His word abroad, 

To let His blessed light shine in thick dark- 
ness, 

To kindle hope where long despair hath 
dwelt, 

To feed the famished souls of sinful men, 

To honor His great name whom we adore? 

But T was obdurate; my soul was hurt 
With contact of the v/orld, crushed by its 

scorn- 
Nay, I would seek the New World solitudes, 
Bury my grief:;, and shun the face of man. 
Nature, perchance, with kindly touch would 

pour 



124 3obn Attnus** XanDtall 

Her soothing balm, from timeless forest 
shades, 

From the wild meadow, sleeping in the sun, 
From the deep mystery of cloud-wrapped 

steep — 
Her healing balm pour on my aching wounds. 



Beneath me crept the Thames, with ship- 
ping burthened, 
Roaring rich tribute of all lands to London, 
Where from her seat the Queen of empire 

rules, 
Forth reaching with her navies round the 

world — 
Tribute of spice, of silken marvels, gems 
From dim Cathay; from opulence of 

Indies 
Treasure undreamed ; the wealth of Europe 

poured 
From teeming mart and mine, e'en from the 

wilds 
Of far America tribute to London, 
That glimmering lay in the far distance — 

once 



BnQlanO, fntCWCU 12$ 

!Ay happy home, the tomb now ol 

How^ain, bow irain tl . of worfo 

me! 

vay I :;av/ th'; rnhty '/;a, 
Va-.t and my . with terror veiled, 

ing to heai me b the union 

All, all v/a-; lo:;t; for i on! 



I clut* dying I 

Heart broken my hot team rained 01 

Og hor to opon v/ido hor arm-; 

And take rrj*-; evermo Be, 

J,'//, l '■><> forth a blighted wanderer, 

/.\}<: \,r:xrA<A with tho :/;orn of m< 

Sounded the earning gun, and from the 
peak 

Qf the brig //an'./ zn //and fluttered the 

al 
The hour of my departure wae at band, 

And -Jov/ly I wont dov/n the hill in tea 






Fe winds that overlord the restless sea, 

Full many an eager sail and pennon 
brave, 
Of proud Armada, of rich argosy, 

Torn of your tempests, where no helm 

could save, 
Have sunk to silence in the ravening 
wave, 
Unseen, save by the hard, unpitying sky; 
Have plunged the abyss to a forgotten 
grave, 
Amid sea-wildernesses strange to lie, 
Mocked by the vainly circling sea-bird's lonely cry! 

Forbear, mighty sea-winds, for a while 

Your fury! and bid Eurus steadfast 
blow; 
Dispel the storm-clouds! let the heavens smile 
126 



jforbeat, tye HClinDs 127 

On yon good ship, that fain would 

westward go! 
A precious seed she bears that God will 
/ sow 
And bring to fruitage on a new-found strand, 
To illume the darkness and to comfort 
woe. 
Winds, waft her gently to the sunset land! 
Speed well, kind winds, the richly freighted "Hand 
in Hand!" 

Forbear! nor let the boisterous waters wake 
The spirit of Loves Herald, bruised and 
sore; 
Let him sleep on, until the Lord shall make 
His servant whole upon the welcoming 

shore, 
There to make known Love's ever-open 
door; 
The Father's love — Oh, that my voice might be 
Attuned with loftier strains Him to 
adore ! — 
To light a beacon, that all men may see 
Love's way, and, hand in hand, walk there eternally. 



0, summer winds, 0, summer winds, 

Come breathe a soothing symphony; 
Come softly blow, come softly blow 
A sweet jEolian threnody! 
I hear loved voices whisper as ye pass; 
So sweet and low, so faintly heard, alas! 

0, summer winds, 0, summer winds, 

Fair Spring hath piped her roundelay; 
She joyful sang, she joyful sang, 

With her April smiles and her wreathes 
of May; 
My being thrills beneath your ardent kiss, 
0, summer winds, with deep ecstatic bliss. 

0, summer winds, 0, summer winds, 
What bourne of rapture do ye seek ? 

Soft airs, from what enchanted clime 
Waft ye your kisses on my cheek; 
128 



H Gbrenodg 129 

While days gone by come back again to me, 
And voices tuned to long-lost melody? 

0, summer winds, 0, summer winds, 

Come with your healing to my soul — 

Blest chrisms of earth, of sky, of sea, 
Bear on your wings to make me whole ! 
O, Mother Nature, hold me to thy breast, 
And soothe and lull my fretful heart to rest! 

9 




Old ocean, lulled by thee, 

Dream I of eternity! 

Tears of parting, ties of blood, 

Toil and turmoil, dust and strife, 
Joy and agony of life 
Sink within the whelming flood. 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity! 
Wastes of amethyst and gold; 
Mountain ranges of the sky; 
Domes ethereal floating high; 
Splendors of creation old. 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity! 
130 



Deep Calletb unto Deep 131 

Pearly morn and fervid noon, 

Raining diamonds on the sea; 
Evening rapt in mystery. 

Tender light of star, of moon. 

Where the shining ripples play, 
Dwellers of the mystic spheres, 
Wondering at our mortal fears, 

Throng the moon- glade 1 s silver way. 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity! 
Countless myriad birds a-wing, 
Now on sun-lit wave a-brood; 
Crying now to God for food, 
Wild discordant voices ring; 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity ! 
See leviathan asleep ! 

Wakes he now 'mid plumld spray, 



132 5obn dfcutraE's XanDfall 

Now the sea-folk round him play, 
And the billows o'er him leap. 
All encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 

Dream I of eternity! 

Fly we from the onward march 

Of the frightful water-spout ! . 
'Mid the rush and roar and shout 
Gleams the rainbow's radiant arch. 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 

Dream I of eternity ! 

Lo, the iceberg's ghostly fleet! 

Band of pallid, questing souls, 
Drifting till, mid-way the poles, 

Tropic streams their coming greet. 

At the phantom fleet aghast, 

All the air grew chill as death, 
Shivering in the Arctic's breath, 

As the vision slowly passed. 



2>eep Galletb unto Deep 133 

Pacing caverns dim with gloom 
To and fro, a polar bear, 
Prisoned in his icy lair, 
Drifting to relentless doom! 
Mountain-dream and argosy, 
Crystal dome agleam afar, 
Crystal hull and mast and spar, 
Move adown the wondering sea! 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 



Old ocean, lulled by thee. 
Dream I of eternity I 
Leaden wave and leaden sky; 

Ken the stoutest heart stands still 

Feels of ocean-soul the thrill, 
As the night-wrack towers high. 
In fierce combat now engage 

Demons riding flying clouds; 

Rushing squadrons of the air; 
Cyclone trumpet's awful blare; 

Shrieking of the trembling shrouds; 
Chaos of tumultuous rage! 



134 3obn Aburrag'd ILanDfaU 

All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast. 

Old ocean, hilled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity! 
Then the calm, with silence shod 
Kissed the billows to repose; 
Fog impenetrable rose; 
Shut us in alone with God. 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 

Dream I of eternity I 

Lost the land, the sky, the sea; 

Lost the light of sun, of moon; 
Nature failing in a swoon, 
Swathed and lost in mystery. 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast I 

Old ocean, lulled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity! 
So the wonders of the deep 
Sank into my very soul, 



Deep Galletb unto Deep 135 

Strove to make the heartbreak whole, 
As my spirit lay asleep. 
All encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast I 

/ Old ocean, lulled by thee, 
Dream I of eternity! 
Love's Horizon Infinite, 

Hold, ah, hold in Thine embrace 
Destiny of all our race, 
Through the darkness, through the light! 
All-encompassing, stupendous, vast, 
Sweeps the horizon round our swaying mast! 



While the Apostle of Love was rocked on the 
bosom of ocean, 

Lulled by wind and wave, and the all-encom- 
passing vastness, 

Lo, in unfaltering faith, on the shore of the 
western horizon, 

Waited a dauntless soul, till the Lord should 
grant his petition. 



While yet thy ship afar was veiled in mists of 

the morning 
Did not my heart within me leap at the voice of 

the Spirit, 
Telling me thou wert come whom I so long had 

expected? 



Book Two 



137 



" Through yonder open casement I behold the grave 
of a man the recollection of whom swells my heart with 
gratitude, and fills my eyes with tears. . . . There 
rests the precious dust of the friend of strangers, whose 
hospitable doors were ever open to the destitute, and to him 
who had none to relieve his sufferings. I myself, once 
thrown on these shores a desolate stranger, this Christian 
man brought me to his habitation. . . . Even now 
I behold in imagination his venerable countenance. Be- 
nignity is seated on his brow, his mind is apparently open 
and confiding; tranquillity reposeth upon his features, and 
the expression of each varying emotion evinceth that 
faith which is the parent of enduring peace, of that peace 
which passeth understanding. . . . This dear man, 
this American ' man of ross ' . . . was a gem of 
the first quality, and notwithstanding the crust, which 
from his birth enfolded him, yet by the rubs he suffered 
from the pebbles among which he was placed, this crust 
was so far broken as to emit upon almost every occasion 
the native splendor of his intellect. Had this man in 
early life received the culture of nature 's hand-maid, what 
a luminous figure he would have made ! But the God of 
nature had stamped upon his soul the image of Himself, 
unbounded benevolence. . . . 

" Peace, peace to thy spirit, thou friendly, feeling, 
faithful man; thy dust is laid up to rest, near the house 
thou didst build for God, but thy spirit rests with God in 
the house built by Him for thee." 

John Murray 



AVE PATRES 

IT AIL to thee, Prophet of Love! untutored 

* * save by the Spirit, 

Light didst thou see afar, and didst build for 

its home foundations. 
Hail to thee, Love's Apostle ! thereon didst thou 

plant a sure beacon 
Glowing with light divine, unquenchable guide 

in the night-storm. 

Fierce though long tempests have striven 
Love's beacon of hope to extinguish, 

One by one at this flame the Lord's right hand 
hath enkindled 

Torches of golden sunlight; and ancient altars 
are glowing, 

i39 



140 Jobn dRurras's xanDtall 

Where through the age-long pain thunders and 

lightnings have threatened. 
Hail to ye, brave hearts and true! steadfast, 

undaunted of error, 
Love proclaimed ye as Lord supreme, as the 

Parent Almighty; 
Brotherhood claimed ye for all mankind, amid 

the vast turmoil — 
Vision sublime, resplendent, longing and dream 

of the ages ! 



Lone Thomas Potter stood on the shore deep 

musing at sunrise, 
Absently scanning the silvery spoils of a night 

on the ocean. 
Strong of frame was the man, wind-scarred like 

his oaks and rugged. 
Doomed to perpetual loss through the greed of a 

churlish father, 
Naught had he known from boyhood of pen or of 

printed paper. 
Burdened with toil on farm and sea passed the 

days of his springtime. 



Gbe Anticipation 141 

Then slow his woodlands and meadows had 

/ widened, till now half a thousand 
Acres stood to his name, yet cramped was his 
life's near horizon. 



But though his life was sore crippled, shut out 
from the treasures of knowledge, 

Eagerly searched his spirit, with wings out- 
stretched, for her birthright, 

Drinking deep of the water of life out-poured 
from the Scriptures, 

Read in response to his earnest prayer by each 
passing preacher. 

And, as they read, his ear caught whispers of 
something far greater, 

Something his soul was craving, wider than 
aught they preached of. 

Long had he cherished the thought to build a 
house with his own hands, 

Open the while to all, but waiting the preacher 
he longed for. 

Worn were his hands and his garb with wearisome 
toil, but his eyes shone 



142 3obn flfturrag's XanDfall 

Deep 'neath his whitening locks with the fire 
divine therein smould'ring : 



Stone upon stone have I laid the walls in mortar 

well tempered; 
True and plumb are the corners, strong their 

burthen to carry. 
Cedar and oak have I felled with long labor, 

my keen axe resounding, 
Ringing a tuneful chime the while I was hewing 

the timbers — 
Corner-post, rafter, beam, and roof tree — and 

riving the shingles. 
Stone of the field and tree of the forest all offer 

praises 
Unto the Lord and Giver, to whose name now I 

devote them. 
Here shall Truth one day find a home awaiting 

her coming, 
Simple and unadorned, with foundations firm 

and enduring — 
Gift of my heart and hands to my Maker, whose 

word I am waiting. 



Gbe Hntidpation 143 

While I labored my heart was singing the 
/ praise of my Master, 

And as I sang, the stones took part and the trees 
and my cattle : 

Stones of the field, stones of the field, for ages long 

have ye waited! 
The Master now calls you, rejoice, rejoice! 
Cry aloud in praise with your new-found voice! 
Long the ages your song have belated. 
No more be ye dumb, 
Through the years to come! 
The Lord is waiting, He gives you voice; 
Ancient stones cry aloud, rejoice, rejoice! 
With your praises my ox-team is freighted. 

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, 
Yet, my sturdy team, the Master wills 
That you alone of His vast, uncounted herd 
Should have part in this home for His promised 

word. 
Ye should be proud 
To be allowed 



144 $obn flfcutrag's XanDfall 

To labor thus for Him 

Before whom bow the heavens, and chant the mighty 

cherubim! 
Bend now your strength to the creaking yoke, 
Slow with stone whose silence my sledge hath broke, 
That we together this house may raise — 
My cattle and I — to the Master's praise! 

Come with me, come with me, stately trees of the 

wood! 
Generations long have ye waiting stood — 
Waiting a Voice. 
Now the Master is calling, 
To my axe are ye falling, 
Rejoice, rejoice! 
Again shall ye stand, 
By the help of my hand t 
And we together 
Shall sing His praise, 
As your strength I raise — 
Your loyal hearts laid bare to the weather. 

Come with me, come with me, silent trees of the wood, 
Lay down your lives for Brotherhood! 



Cbe anticipation 145 

And the Lord of Life, the Giver of Good, 
Unto you the voice of a trumpet shall give — 
Sweet-toned, silver, ringing clear, 
Bidding the slaves of fear, 
Men and nations, rejoice and live! 
Rejoice and live! Rejoice and live! 

Long hath my house been open to preachers of 

every persuasion — 
Meek-faced man of peace who spake as moved 

by the Spirit, 
Circuit rider aglow with tempestuous fires of 

emotion, 
Elder o'erbrimming with zeal to bless the world 

by immersion, 
Churchman in flowing robes intoning liturgical 

measures, 
Puritan stern of mien, inflexible master of 

logic — 
Wide has my door been thrown for each to 

deliver his message. 

Still from my heart of pain cries a void which no 
man hath measured, 



146 5obn jflburraB's UanDfall 

Wherein my fellow-men, e'en the myriad sinners 

of all time, 
Refuge may find and hope, exceeding aught 

these have told us. 
Surely my thought is no higher than His who 

created the heavens ! 
Surely my love is no deeper than His who was 

pierced for transgressors, 
Whose great heart of love must be deep and 

wide as the world's need! 
Oh, that the Lord would incline His ear to my 

humble petition, 
Offered at early morn, at noon, and in the 

night season! 



Smiling the sunlight gladdens my path, as if joy 

were. my birthright; 
Aged oaks branch above my head, as if longing 

to bless me; 
Sometimes the ocean rocks my boat, as if 't were 

a loved cradle; 
Sometimes I feel the sky bending over me, 

pitying, yearning; 



Gbe anticipation 147 

Night with her starry eyes looks down, as if 

watching my vigil; 
Winds caress my sun-brown cheek, and the 

tremulous air seems 
Full of murmuring voices, striving their secret 

to utter. 
Ever there whispers and beckons something 

tenderer, stronger, 
Luring by day and by night my hungering soul 

toward the unknown. 

Now broods a tender light upon the sea; 

Sweet voices of the forest whisper low; 
The sunset ivraps my soul in mystery — 

Whither and whence do the drifting ages flow ? 

Now cries a voice of terror through the storm; 

Vast hangs the gloom on forest and on sea; 
From Nature's wrath I shrink; her dreadful form 

Crushes my soul with awe and mystery! 

Is there a Hand of Love that guides the world, 

Through all the mazes of our checkered way; 

That turns the shafts by cruel tempest hurled; 
That leads from darkness to eternal day ? 



148 $obn tffcurraE'6 Xandtall 

Or does some despot rule our destiny 

With iron rod, his glory to enhance; 

Who turns Him not our pleading hands to see — 
Or are we victims of dull, aimless Chance ? 

Look down, kind Heaven, and listen to my cry! 
Wherefore the ceaseless round of human 
woe? 
Is there a Heart of Pity in the sky ? 

Whither and whence do the pitiless ages 
flow? 

Dreamed I the Master Fisherman came and, 

fishing beside me, 
Drew forth a mighty multitude out of the 

wondering waters — 
Yea, as He gathered them in He emptied the sea 

of fishes. 
Mused I beside my ripened wheat, making ready 

to reap it, 
When by my side stood the Lord of the Harvest 

and put in His sickle, 
Gathering all, the light and the full heads, into 

His garner, 



Gbe Anticipation 149 

Gleaning the stalks that were scattered and 
broken, to crown the glad harvest; 

Whispered my cry had reached Him, and soon 
He would answer my longing. 

Waking, the sun shone with greater glory and 
wider my vision. 



Would that He to whose name I have built a 

house with mine own hands — 
Built in the hope He would send me a man to 

disclose His great goodness, 
Would He but show me clear the thought that 

has vaguely haunted 
Fishing-boat, forest, and farm, as I have wrought 

at my labors, 
Throwing a halo o'er earth and sea and the face 

of my brother, 
Making me sure that the Ruler of Heaven in 

glory supernal, 
He who hath given me bread from my farm and 

food from the ocean, 
Seedtime and harvest, friendship, home and 

fireside affection, 



150 5obn dfturrag'g OLanOfall 

Must be more near than a sovereign, to breathe 

on my spirit this yearning — 
Would that the Lord might be gracious and 

bring me the light I have longed for ! 

So mused lone Thomas Potter, aflame with his 

high intuition, 
As, with his net well filled, like Peter's, he put 

up his tackle — 
Wanting the dayspring in whose golden light 

our souls are rejoicing. 

Slowly the fog was lifted from over Cranberry 

Inlet, 
Lifted from Barnegat Bay and the tide-swept 

shore of the Jerseys. 
Poising and wheeling the seagulls rejoiced in 

freedom and plenty. 
Wafted like incense the vapors ascended to 

heaven as the sun rose, 
Matins of praise in majestical rhythm rolling in 

from the ocean — 
Prelude of worship sublime, when Day enters 

Earth's vast cathedral. 



Gbe Anticipation 151 

Thou dwellest not in temples made with hands; 
Each silent mountain that majestic stands 
With mighty shoulder underneath the sky, 
Is but a pillar in Thy temple! High 
From peak to peak the aerial arches spring 
And, mounting heavenward, of Thy glory sing. 

Beneath, vast lands and ocean spread a glittering 

'floor; 
Mid-air, like hovering angels, rapturous clouds 

adore ; 
The hills and woodlands, sweet with bird-song, 

soft their carols raise; 
The deep-toned cataracts and flowing rivers chant 

Thy praise; 
Winds waft the wonder of Thy name from land to 

land, 
And, where the crashing billows roll upon the 

strand, 
A ceaseless anthem rises unto Thee, 
Sounding Thy praises from eternity ! 

Nor dost Thou most delight to dwell in these, 
On purple mountain or on sapphire seas, 



152 5obn dfcurrag'0 XanDfall 

Nor in the hush of mystic woodlands fair, 
Where breathes the spring upon the trembling air; 
Nor vaulted arch nor dome Thy glories span — 
Thy habitation is the heart of man ! 
This ancient shrine is Thy Most Holy Place, 
Where Thou dost meet Thy children face to face. 

Then spake the Spirit to him who for many a 

year had been waiting : 
"Lift up thine eyes, O man, and behold afar in 

the offing 
Yonder bark hither bound — it bears my servant 

to bless thee; 
Get thee in peace to thine house, and there shalt 

thou presently greet him!" 
Swift as the lover seeks his beloved, or bird her 

nestling, 
Homeward strode this man of faith, and eagerly 

waited : 
Waited impatient as day wore on, till the 

twilight descended. 

Then through the lanes of the forest he saw a 
stranger approaching ; 



Gbe IRecognltion 153 

Broken he seemed with sorrow, yet still in his 

youth he was comely; 
Watched him pause and scan the meeting-house 
A as he passed it — 
Built of logs well-hewn was the house, within 

wrought of sweet woods 
Fragrant and pure of breath as the sacred 

Lebanon cedars, 
Lifting for Israel arms of prayer through the 

desolate ages — 
Watched him gaze at the ancient oaks that bent 

o'er the building, 
Standing guard with sheltering arms round this 

cradle of promise, 
Saw him draw near and more near, till he 

paused to speak at his threshold. 



Cast on a foreign shore the sea-worn, famishing 

stranger, 
Victim of contrary winds and scanty store of 

provision, 
Sought as a favor a fish to buy for himself and 

his comrades. 



154 3obn Murray's XanDfaU 

''Nay," spake Potter, "I will not sell what is 

mine for the taking ; 
Thine is the fish for the asking, and gladly I give 

what thou era vest. 
But thee thyself would I keep; for long have 

I looked for thy coming, 
Built thee a house wherein to declare the word 

of thy Master, 
Waited and watched and expected;, to-night 

shalt thou bide in my dwelling ! 
While yet thy ship afar was veiled in mists of 

the morning, 
While still I mused on the shore and offered 

again my petition, 
Did not my heart within me leap at the word of 

the Spirit, 
Telling me thou wert come whom I so long 

had expected, 
Whom the Lord had sent to make known the 

truth I had longed for? 
This be thy home; thy chamber is ready, and 

truly my heart glows 
Warmly for thee, for the Lord hath told me thou 

art His servant." 



Gbe TOnfc Wever TOU Gbange 155 

Startled as if by a bolt from the heavens, the 

stranger made answer : 
11 Nay, it may not be thus, for I sail with the first 
I wind that favors; 

Costly cargo is in my care and I may not desert it ; 
But when my shipmates have eaten thy gifts and 

have satisfied hunger, 
Gladly will I return and accept for the night of 

thy shelter." 

"Art thou a man of God," quoth Potter, "and 

darest keep silence, 
Dar'st thou break the command of thy Master 

who sends thee to bless us, 
Hiding under a bushel the light which God hath 

shown thee? " 

"When the wind shifteth I go: I have said it, 

nor shalt thou delay me ! 
Be not deceived for never again shall my tongue 

break silence : 
Nevermore face I the wrath of man, from which 

I am fleeing, 
That I may hide my woe-worn heart from the 

shafts of sorrow!" 



156 Jobn flfturraE's 3LanDfall 

Restless the rocking sloop in the bay was riding 

at anchor, 
Breasting a strong east wind that blew inshore 

from the ocean. 
Steadily sang the wind, and steadily importuned 

Potter, 
Plead with the man of God to stay and deliver 

his message. 

Standing with up-raised hand, cried the aged 

Prophet of Dayspring, 
While from his deep-set eyes bright gleamed the 

fire prophetic, 
Lighting his furrowed face and his grizzled 

beard with its radiance: 
"Mark well my word: The wind never will 

change till thou speak to this people /" 



Winds of Orient, steadfast blow ! 
Do not let your captive go ! 
Hold him on the waiting shore ! — 
Faith's long vigil now is o'er. 



Fog and sea-winds turn his prow ; 
Eager Faith is breathless now — 



156 Jobn dfcurraB's ILandfall 

Restless the rocking sloop in the bay was riding 

inchor, 
Breasting a strong east wind that blew inshore 

from the ocean. 
Steadily sang the wind, and steadily :ned 

Potter, 
Plead with the man of God to stay and deliver 

his r 

St; raised hand, cried the aged 

■ 
"Mark well my word: The wind never will 
change till thou speak to this people/' 

Lighting his furrowed face and his grizzled 
d with its radia: 
lark well my word: The wind never will 
chat 

ds of Oi 
Do not let your captive go t 
Hoi j hore ! — 

Fai >'er. 

Fog is turn his prow ; 

Eager Faith is breathless now — 



TOnDs of ©dent 157 

Soul to soul the fateful hour 
Draws with deep, mysterious power. 

Tempests, blow your trumpets loud ! 
» Shake afar your banners proud ! 
Gale and night-wrack, loud with fear, 
Keep the storm-bound pilgrim here I 

Mighty sea-winds, steadfast blow I 
Long the ages toil and slow; 
Hope has waited long the light — 
Sweep away the mists of night ! 

Winds of morning, hither blow — 
Man his destiny would know — 
From the cradle of the morn 
On your golden pinions borne! 

Faithful winds, oh, steadfast blow, 
Till the Lord His mercy show! 
Blow, winds ! Over land and sea 
Broods the ancient mystery. 

Day after day blew the gale till now it was 

Saturday evening, 
Never it veered a point, and at last John Murray 

consented. 



158 ^obn dfourrag's Xanfcfall 

Then Thomas Potter rejoiced, called his men 

and quickly gave orders ; 
Told them to saddle and ride in haste to summon 

the people, 
Dwellers in woodland, on farm and on shore, 

and many a league round : 
"Bid them come all," said he, "to hear the 

man I have looked for ; 
Day is far spent and the Sabbath draws on — 

away, do not linger!" 
Forth sped the galloping horsemen through 

wood-lane and hamlet by moonlight, 
While the old man gave thanks that his prayer 

drew near its fulfilment. 

A leap to the saddle! Now, comrades, away! the 

news to the countryside bringing. 
We y ll scour the borders of Barnegat Bay, echoes 
flying and hoof -clatter ringing! 

Forward! Forward! Tra la la! Tra 
la la! Tra la la! 

Ride, Gabriel, south, on the Waretown trail, and 
Joshua westward to Whiting, 



Cbe Summons 159 

And I '11 push to north 'ard through forest and swale, 
the whole Manasquam district inviting! 

Forward! Forward! Tralala! Trala 
la! Tra la la! 

Ho, Neighbor John, I bring thee news ; my master 

bids thee to meeting! 
Come all on the morrow! Come fill the pews! Give 
-the stranger a rousing good greeting! 

Forward! Forward! Tra la la! Tra la 
la! Tra la la! 

Wake, Captain Jones! come, prithee, wake! and 

hear the word of my master. 
I cannot tarry, I speed must make! On Royal! 
Faster! Faster! 

Forward! Forward! Tralala! Trala 
la! Tra la la! 



Shut in his chamber alone, storm-swept was the 

soul of John Murray. 
Gone were the joys of his youth, and death, the 

ruthless destroyer, 



160 5obn jfllburraE's Xandfall 

Long since his home had invaded, and ravished 

his heart's best treasure; 
Gone were friendship and fame, and the rights 

of conscience denied him; 
Home and country abandoned, a fugitive he 

from England, 
Where excommunication had branded with 

shame his forehead. 
What would the Lord require of him here, afar 

among strangers, 
Here in this land of refuge, whither sorrow had 

driven him, 
Whither from many lands the streams of life 

were converging? 
Longed he amid the swirling tides to be lost in 

the New World, 
Where he might drown his grief, till summoned 

to follow his dear ones. 
How should he minister unto this soul who his 

coming had waited, 
One who with faith's clear vision had seen and 

rejoiced in his coming? 
Fierce the wild tumult and storm swept the 

prostrate soul of the exile! 



Gbe Vision 161 

Down the long, shadowy vista beheld he in 

mighty procession 
Kindreds and peoples forth-driven, sailing to 

regions of sunset; 
Squadrons breasting the ocean unto the haven 

of longing — 
Where dim the flame of liberty smouldered, 

ready to blaze forth — 
Unto the dream-land-bourne of the race, whither 

Hope flew before them, 
Seeking manhood to rescue from out of the 

clutch of the spoiler; 
Under a free sky seeking space for a brotherhood 

ampler, 
Saw he that God would here make known Love's 

new dispensation. 
Sore the anguish and travail-throes of the soul 

of the pilgrim, 
Bringing to birth her message supreme, Love's 

gracious evangel. 

Watching his night-long vigil, the preacher 
communed with the Spirit ; 



162 3obn flfourrag's XanDtall 

Sought he the Will Divine, imploring the 

Answering Presence; 
Grappled with fierce self-will in mortal conflict, 

and breathless, 
Heard the shuddering olive sigh in Gethsemane's 

darkness ; 
Heard the prayer of forgiveness breathed by 

Calvary's Martyr; 
Saw Love's pallid face, thorn-crowned, gently 

upbraiding ; 
Looked on the wounded feet, nailed fast, for him 

ever waiting; 
Yea, and the pierced hands, out-stretched man- 
kind to ingather. 



Long and o'erwhelming the struggle that rent 

the soul of Love's Herald, 
Heart-break and fear of the world's cruel scorn 

against Truth and the Spirit — 
"How shall I carry the burden that Thou hast 

sent to this people, 
I that feared the face of man, disregarding Thy 

summons, 



Gbe Distort 163 

I that resisted the Voice of Thy grace and fled 
from its calling?" 

Go, Herald of the Morn, fear not 

Thy message to proclaim; 

Throw light upon man's lot, 

His sorrow and his shame I 

The light that shone in Galilee 

Hath been by men obscured; 

The years have waited long for thee, 

The darkness long endured — 

Now Fear release her hold; 

Now Love Almighty make thee bold ! 

The Living Word His Spirit will impart, 

Set free thy tongue, and nerve thy shrinking heart. 

Fear not the face of man ! He will defend 

His servant; He will courage lend; 

Alone He suffered many things for thee: 

The wrath of man, the shame, the agony. 

The darkness needs the light, sorrow the comfort 

needs 
Which unto thee the Lord of Light hath shown; 



1 64 3obn dfcurraE's ILanDfall 

Fear not, man of God, thy Master own ! 
Love-led shalt thou go forth, but not alone, 
He whom thou servest shall with thee abide, 
His aid and comfort ever at thy side, 
Though to the Mount of Suffering perchance He 
leads. 

Calm all thy fears ! 

The coming years 

Shall bring thee mighty fellowship: 

A countless throng 

Shall bear thee company with joyous song, 

Their steps illumined with the light which thou 

hast brought — 
Speak, Love's Apostle, speak and fear thou naught I 

Then did his soul, borne aloft in prayer, illu- 
mined, exalted, 

Rise on her wings to heights aglow with un- 
speakable visions: 

Saw he the age-long strife and pain of humanity 
ended ; 

Evil destroyed by the Hand that created, its 
mission accomplished — 



Zbe Vision 165 

Gloom terrific, mysterious, night of the earth- 
shade averted, 

Turned from the day till it mourn for the joy 
and the splendor of sunlight ! 

Spirits of men, made strong in the fight, re- 
joicing in freedom; 

Heaven and earth at one, night-shadows dis- 
solved in sunshine; 

Might of the Ancient of Days victorious, Love 
ruling all worlds! 

Brooding the winds of night invited the weary 
to slumber, 

While in the tops of the trees the voice of the 
ocean, rejoicing, 

Flowed in murmuring song, and the forest re- 
peated the welcome; 

Soft the tremulous leaves and the tuneful wood- 
minstrel voices 

Welcomed the watcher lone, and breathed their 
balm on his spirit. 

Pulsed through the starry vast a thrill of awe 
and of wonder 



166 5obn /UburraE's Xanfcfall 

Deep as if the World's Heart, the Soul of all 

being were near by — 
Presence unseen, mysterious, waiting to make 

self -r e vealmen t , 
Nature expecting Love's Herald, her innermost 

meaning to utter. 
Spell-bound the forest glades and the night-folk 

listened and waited; 
Soft in the oak tree sighed the trembling mistle- 
toe's whisper; 
Odors of scented grass, sweet fern and rich 

pennyroyal, 
Bay leaf and crisping moss, aroma of resinous 

pine cones, 
Breath of dulse and seaweed and salt spray 

faintly borne inland, 
Blending as incense pure, bore heavenward the 

prayer of the night-breeze. 



Solemn the slow constellations mounted their 

guard, mailed in glory, 
Over the place where Faith met Love, sacred 

forever, 



Gbe Distort 167 

Whence should flow a light to illumine the 
uttermost shadow. 

Over the chamber of wrestling the Angel of Hope 
hung expectant. 

Longing to hear her name made known to the 
faint and despairing, 

Sought she some clue to unravel the mystery- 
borne on the night wind, 

Riddle of destiny luring and baffling the soul of 
the ages. 

(Angel, sweet ally and comforter, never, ah, 
never desert us!) 

Circling in flight labyrinthic and slow o'er 
Faith's hallowed rooftree, 

Wove she aerial ways for love's heavenward- 
climbing petition; 

Paused she to scan the deepening glow on the 
waking horizon, 

Wakened by gleamings of mightier, oncoming 
aid for the wrestler. 

Gliding athwart the heavens, over the slumber- 
ing nations, 



1 68 ^obn flfoutras's ILanDfall 

Over the good and evil, over the just and the 

unjust, 
Bent archangels twain apparelled in raiment 

supernal, 
Flowing in lustrous folds like the trailing galaxy's 

glory- 
Messengers sent of Him whose face no mortal 

may look on. 



Elder was one of the glorious pair than the 

spirits primeval; 
Younger his luminous mate than the seven 

mighty archangels 
Lucent with vast renown in the hierarchy of 

Heaven, 
Who, with bright squadrons unnumbered, 

immortal, as sunbeams rejoicing, 
Ever as glittering halos encircle the throne of the 

Unseen : 
Michael excelled they, the Crucifer, valiant 

commander of Heaven's host; 
Jophiel, guard of the Tree of Knowledge, also 

surpassed they; 



Gbe Wteion 169 

Zadkiel, stayer of Abraham's knife, upraised on 

his own son; 
Chemuel, who with Jacob did wrestle all night 

and did bless him; 
Gabriel, bearing to Daniel clear vision, to Mary 

the lily ; 
Raphael outshone they, of men potent healer, 

of youth strong protector, 
Messenger gracious; Uriel, sun-dweller dazzling, 

eclipsed they — 
These and the nine thrice-blessed choirs to the 

twain made obeisance, 
Who forth-moving, all Heaven was a-light with 

the sheen of their glory. 



Sprung from the Source of all Being, ere aeons 

and cycles 'gan moving 
Round the immutable throne, Time had ne'er 

ploughed his deep furrow 
, Where sat ineffable calm serene on the brow of 

the elder. 
Rivers of light the folds of his robe did radiate 

goodness, 



170 Jobn Abuttals 3ian&taU 

Waking answering gleams divine in the soul of 

the creature, 
Till in the luminous flood shone the deepest 

recess of creation. 
Infinite love and compassion distilled on the 

night from his pinions, 
As in the wonder of June, from the locust tree's 

redolent clusters, 
Perfume outpours on the night-airs that brood 

over hillside and valley. 



Sprung from the heart of the Son of Man, how 
gracious the younger 

Glowed with youth immortal, with joy of 
humanity's future! 

Wistfully wondering wherefore so long the 
plaint of the helpless, 

Moved by awakening powers to wrest the 
oppressed from the spoiler, 

Deep from his eyes shone the soul of all human- 
kind fathomless, regal, 

As of a god newborn, awaking to mingled 
emotions, 



Gbe Vision 171 

Pity's gentler rays amid flashes of fierce indig- 
nation, 

Deep with the travail, heart-hunger, the dream- 
ing of long generations — 

Dreams of magnificence paling the splendor of 
kingly usurpers; 

Stately the domes of beneficence raised by the 
will of the many, 

Where in the halls of a selfish past haughty 
luxury flaunted 

Trappings of insolent pride in the face of the 
woes of the people ; 

Loosened the hold of Greed, released its perish- 
ing victims, 

Thrilled by the emancipating touch of the 
radiant presence, 

Thrilled by the heartening rhythm of human- 
kind shoulder to shoulder; 

Room for the spirit of man to grow to the 
stature that God meant; 

Nobler largess of life 'neath the sun, and when 
earth is forgotten — 

Dreams, fair dreams of life more ample in store 
for the humblest! 



172 3obn dfturraE's XanDfall 

Vast loomed the twain from horizon to zenith, 

filling the heavens, 
Blinding mighty Orion, Arcturus, outshining 

their splendor; 
Dimming fierce Argol, the Demon's Eye, Dragon 

and Scorpion quenching. 
Rose they with movement majestic while Joy 

ran ever before them, 
Proudly chanting paeans adown the path of 

their glory. 



Through the long-arching skies antiphonal 

breathings responded, 
Bidding the sons of men awake and join in glad 

welcome ; 
Luring blest souls e'en from Paradise-raptures of 

worship and high deeds, 
Souls once enslaved of the flesh, grown free and 

strong in the heavens, 
Lovers of men, companions erstwhile of our 

toil and our earth-bonds, 
Yearning more eager as slow our night rolls 

nearer their sunlight. 



Zbe Vision 173 

Summoned were powers of light to witness the 

will of the Highest : 
Angels, archangels, and spirits supreme who 

stand in His presence, 
Servitors clothed in apparel of lightning, His 

glory their dwelling, 
Swifter than light His word to obey, in power 

resistless. 
Lo, 'mid the throng, in her arms fondly bearing 

his glorified firstborn, 
Bent o'er the couch of John Murray the wife of 

his youth, sore lamented, 
Breathing peace on his soul and gently soothing 

its tumult. 



Blossomed the air as when cherry-bloom snows 
drop silently earthward, 

Borne on the wings of soft breezes of April, and 
cover the hillside. 

Quivered the night with the strong restraint of 
the mighty immortals 

Wheeling in myriad ranks through the multi- 
tudinous heavens, 



174 Sobn /lfturraE'0 XanOfall 

Poising in rapt adoration, Love's gracious re- 

vealment awaiting, 
Countless as orbs of light in the midsummer 

firmament's glory. 

Then like a bird sore wounded that startles the 
hush of the forest, 

Sudden heavenward rose a plaint — Mother- 
Earth pleading: 

"Lo, my children scattered far, 
Burden all the air 
With cries of long despair! 

I feel upon my bosom fall 

Hot tears of men like rain — 
How burns my heart with pain! 

Darkly sets each glowing star, 
Day spring tarries long, 
Sorrow's hold is strong. 

The offspring of my fertile womb 
Throng life's fevered quest, 
And soon in darkness rest. 



Cbe Dteton 175 

From age to age I hear them call; 
They gasp, they reel, they die; 
Cold in my arms they lie. 

My immemorial past a tomb, 

How mocks the glad sunshine 
These countless dead of mine! 

Fate is cruel, man is brave; 
Waits a fairer bourne 
For the years that mourn ? 

Who my troubled sons shall save, 
Who their fetters rend, 
Who my grieving end?' 1 

Then a Voice filled the expectant vast with 

ecstasy: ''Lo, I 
Send forth ye messengers twain to destroy the 

powers that vex Man; 
Man, my son, that of old, from eternity lay in 

my bosom, 
Waiting till slow-paced cycles should wake his 

slumber to being — 
Soul of my soul, partaker of Deity's innermost 

essence. 



176 $obn /flburrag's XanDfall 

Over the abyss of the infinite Parent-love 

brooded till man was; 
Till from the fathomless deep of the Heart of the 

Infinite rose Man ; 
Rose to the struggle of Time that should fit him 

to be my companion. 



" Sound ye the doom of the demons, Fear and 

Greed and Hatred — 
Fear that would veil His face with gloom who 

rejoiced in creation, 
Hushing the song of joy with horror of cruel 

foreboding, 
Alienating the heir of worlds from the Parent 

who bore him ; 
Hideous vampire Greed that would drink the 

blood of the helpless, 
Trading in ruin of manhood, of womanhood, 

tears of the children, 
Bartering truth and light, freedom and country 

for gold-lust, 
Things of the flesh exalting high above things 

of the spirit; 



Gbe Distort 177 

Hatred, implacable sower of strife, embroiling 
the nations, 

Laying earth waste with terror of cruel war's 
conflagration ; 

Brother 'gainst brother, and race 'gainst race in 
turmoil unending — 

These all shall ye destroy, when they have ful- 
filled my permission, 

When "man, my child, hath learned to resist the 
allurements of evil, 

Learned that life divine is joy, all else vain delu- 
sion. 

Go ye and bury the past, open wide the doors of 
the future; 

Go, fill the heart of man with joy of my ripening 
purpose, 

Bear him light to dispel the clouds that have 
kept us asunder; 

Cry: Love is Lord to the uttermost, Love only, 
now and forever ! 



As the fierce storm-cloud, discharged of its 
menace, melting to sunshine, 



178 5obn dfturraE's XanDtall 

Waters the frighted hills and rejoices the desert 

with verdure, 
So, through tempest and flame, lead I to Love's 

consummation. 
In that day will the Lord of Hosts make a feast 

to all people, 
He will destroy the veil that is spread o'er the 

face of all nations. 
Vast though the billows of time be, storm- vexed 

and laden with wreckage, 
Mighty pulsations of Love's Heart they flow, 

surging sunward forever 
Unto the bourne of light, of life, darkness 

forgotten. 
Lo, as a mother doth tenderly nurture her first- 
born for manhood, 
Cycle on cycle bear I creation, laid in my bosom ! ' ' 

Silent the heavenly choirs hold back, the twain 
pressing forward. 

Touch of the Light of Light, of creation's dread 

Sovereign the signet — 
Kissed by whose rays the night-pulse woke, in 

ecstasy throbbing — ■ 



Gbe melon 179 

Hovered over the breast of the elder Earth- 
filling presence 

Tongues of living fire: Fatherhood of the 
Almighty. 

Joy prophetic illumined the face of this herald 
archangel, 

Foregleam of radiance caught from the triumph 
of Love o'er the future; 

Pity "paternal waiting the slow-hearted growth 
of earth's children, 

Tenderly watching and sorrowing over the woes 
of the wilful, 

Over the pangs of the travail of humankind 
climbing to daylight. 

Shone on his godlike brow a frontal the flame 
of whose burning 

Shrivelled oppression and wrong and each 
pitiless foe of the ages, 

Waked the nations to light, illumined the dark- 
ness of asons — 

Fatherhood yearning, creating, rejoicing, life- 
giving Fountain, 

Lav/ of all law, mighty Force of all force, of all 
nature the Master! 



180 5obn /Bburrag ? 6 HanDfall 

Lo, in his hand uplifted a scroll written with 

wonders 
God would make known by this heavenly visitant 

unto His children. 
Fear fled amain and sweet peace dwelt with men 

whereso lighted the glory. 
Stronger than sorrow, than travail, than death 

rose the mighty archangel, 
Manhood exalting, sonship to God showing, 

heritage royal. 
E'en harassed Nature found refuge secure 

'neath his wide-spread pinions. 
Poured on the fields of night new life flowed 

ever before him, 
Quickening desert long dead, solitude /thirst- 
stricken, blasted, 
Stunted and storm-swept growth on terrible 

regions of famine, 
Thick strown with wreckage of ages, sin-cursed 

and scarred with destruction — 
Life, more abounding life rolled its flood, reviving 

creation, 
Making the wilderness drear to bloom with rose 

and lily, 



Gbe Vision 181 

Barren regions joyful singing with blossom and 

fruitage, 
Surging — resistless tide! — adown the shore of 

the ages. 



Forth from the palms of the younger a soft light 
earthward was streaming, 

Sweeter than early dawn to eyes that have wept 
through the long night. 

Writ on his hands, wide-extended, Brother- 
hood shone like a pearl's glow 

Streaming to all mankind, as he waited the word 
of Love's Herald. 

Wheresoe'er passed the breath of the robes of 
the younger archangel 

Weary eyes of pain looked up at the light with 
glad hope, 

Captives of grim despair wondered as day woke 
the dungeon, 

Victims of tempest-throe and horrible earth- 
convulsion, 

Victims of war's dread carnage, lifted weak 
hands for succor: 



1 82 jobn i!lfturraE'0 XanDfall 

Races of men long estranged drew nigh with 
greetings fraternal, 

Conscious of might erstwhile unknown, new- 
born of their union, 

Powers stupendous awaiting the welding of all 
men in love's bonds — 

Whereso fell gracious light from his palms van- 
ished age-long shadows. 



Hid in his robe, on his heart, lay a precious vial 

of healing, 
Balm distilled from flowers that gladden the 

meadows of Heaven, 
Sprung from seed of the lily that whitened on 

Galilee's lakeside, 
Seed of the blood-red rose of the thorn of 

Calvary 's«passion , 
Blossoms gathered by hands of the blest for love's 

pure alembic. 
Olive and oak intertwined on the brow of the 

lord of the future. 
Followed close in his light young Peace and 

Strength, rejoicing, 



£be Ufsfon 183 

Bearers of gifts undreamed from the treasure- 
house of the Father. 

As now the mighty pair drew nigh where the 

Pilgrim was pleading, 
Into his soul flowed fast new strength and peace 

and the air seemed 
Tremulous with life. Then the elder archangel, 

down-stooping, 
Touched his eyes and, vision expanding, saw he 

the whole world 
Lie in the bosom of God, in the arms of the 

Heavenly Father. 
Touched then the younger archangel the heart 

of Love's Apostle. 
Coursed through his veins new warmth of life, 

new love for the neighbor, 
Till the whole world was transfigured in fellow- 
ship strong and enduring. 

Then the Pilgrim to hearten the mighty visitants 

. whispered : 
"Thou who hast seen the glory wherewith Love 
Almighty hath clothed us, 



1 84 5obn dfturrag's XanDfall 

Make us known to the sons of men, Herald of 

Dayspring ! 
Thou who hast put thy hand to the plough, 

turn thou back never! 
Up and down this Land of the Future drive thy 

furrow, 
Wherein the seed of light shall be sown by the 

Master Sower; 
Seed that shall grow to harvest— abundant 

fruit of thy labor. 
We will reap for the Master's glory, when thou 

hast departed, 
Full of years and scarred with toil for the mighty 

World Saviour." 



Soft from the dome of night breathed down 
melodious measures, 

Song of rejoicing hosts come forth to speed the 
archangels : 

As though a fresh-budding rose were each 
rapturous voice of the chorus, 

Wafting her delicate fragrance afar on the soft- 
blowing summer — 



Gbe Vision 185 

Dream of the land of the sun, whose odorous 

orange groves murmur 
Unto the frozen north, rejoicing the heart of 

the winter; 
Soul of the stately pine, harp of whispering 

branches 
Breathing seolian mysteries, storm-blown aerial 

trumpets 
Soaring, on-rush of seas in the chant of the winds 

and the forest; 
Myriad hillsides murmuring madrigals, ice- 
fetters melting; 
Myriad rivulets tunefully carolling down to the 

sea's arms; 
Spell of the waking dawn, mellow- toned robin 

and wood thrush 
Filling the tremulous air with orisons heralding 

dayspring — 
Vain, all in vain, sweet symphonies, vain all your 

ravishing voices, 
Striving to echo the ineffable joy that now 

blossomed in Heaven! 



186 $obn flfcurraE's 3LanDtall 

VOICES OF THE HEAVENLY HOST 

Come forth to bid the two mighty archangels 
— the elder bearing on his breast that most holy- 
name, Fatherhood of the Almighty, the 
younger on his palms the blessed name of 
Brotherhood — Godspeed on their heartening 
mission to Love's Herald, who is agonizing in 
night-long supplication at the home of the aged 
Prophet, and thence proceeding for the uplift 
and inspiration of the world : 

First Voice. 
Second Voice. 

Chorus of Angels without Number. 
The Nine Thrice Blessed Choirs. 
Innumerable Voices of the Blessed. 
Seven Archangels Chanting. 
Mother of All Living. 
Venerable Patriarch. 
Lofty Seer. 

Voice of the Hoary Past. 
Voice of Progress in Times to Be. 
Apostle of the Gentiles. 
Voices of the Dead of All Ages. 
Voices of Generations yet Unborn, 
voices of Air and Sea and Earth. 
Universal Pcean. 

The Two Great Archangels Chanting, as they 
Proceed on their Way. 



jog in 1beav>en 187 

FIRST VOICE 

"Who is this that cometh, that cometh with 
tidings? Tell me, O ye children of the morning, 
watching at the gates of Paradise!" 

SECOND VOICE 

u, Tis Love's Apostle, sent of the Almighty. 
Alleluia ! Love Almighty reigneth ! ' ' 

FIRST VOICE 

"Sing unto the Lord a new song and His praise 
from the ends of the earth! Sing, ye heavenly 
hosts, in Him rejoicing ! Alleluia !" 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

11 Sing, glad heavens, rejoice and sing; 
Wide for Love the portals fling! 
Love no more His face shall hide f 
Tell the tidings far and wide; 
Tell the lowliest of the race ! 
Love for him hath kept a place! 
A lleluia ! A lleluia ! ' ' 



1 88 Jobn /Ifourrag's XanDtall 

SECOND VOICE 

"Awake, psaltery and harp; sing unto Him a 
new song! The chariots of God are twenty 
thousands and thousands of angels." 

FIRST VOICE 



"Yea, and the voice of many angels round about 
the throne, ten thousand times ten thousand." 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

1 ' Let no longer fear appall, 
High the Cross is reared for all. 
Joy shall from the heavens overflow. 
Light shall rise for all below. 
Unconditioned Love is free : 
Show the ancient mystery. 
A lleluia ! A lleluia ! ' ' 

SECOND VOICE 

"There is a river the streams whereof make glad 
the city of our God." 



Jog in Ibeaven 189 

FIRST VOICE 

''Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the 
waters!" 

THE NINE THRICE-BLESSED CHOIRS CHANTING 

"Thou makest us to drink of the stream of Thy 
joy: for with Thee is the fountain of life." 

INNUMERABLE VOICES OF THE BLESSED 

"In Thy light do we see light, O Thou who 
coverest Thyself with light, as with a garment ! " 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

" Guard the Pilgrim's lonely prayer, 
Guard his vigil from despair, 
Angels twain, his heart inspire, 
Light within him heavenly fire; 
Cheer the servant of the Lord, 
Gird him with the Spirit's sword! 
A lleluia I A lleluia I ' ' 



i9o 3obn /HburraE'0 Xanfcfall 

FIRST AND SECOND VOICES 

"See the Son of Man enthroned beside His 
Father! Alleluia! 

Love's Apostle cometh His sure triumph to 
proclaim. Alleluia ! ' ' 

THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS CHANTING 

"For He must reign until He hath put all things 
under His feet!" 

THE NINE THRICE-BLESSED CHOIRS CHANTING 

"Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him and 
hath given Him a name which is above every 
name." 

THE SEVEN ARCHANGELS CHANTING 

"Victor over all His foes triumphant. Alleluia! 
Alleluia ! Alleluia ! 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

"Fly with earth-embracing wing, 
Heaven and earth together bring! 



Jog in Ibeaven 191 

Sons of men, awake from sleep; 
Love doth tireless vigil keep! 
Waiteth Love from age to age, 
Till ye find your heritage. 
A lleluia I A lleluia I ' ' 

SINGETH ONE MOTHER OF ALL LIVING 

" Behold, I bring you comfort, O my children! 
Said not the Almighty that my Seed should 
crush the serpent's head?" 

SINGETH THE VENERABLE PATRIARCH 

"Upon the plains of Mamre came the promise 
unto me: In thy Seed shall all the families and 
kindreds of the earth be blessed." 

SINGETH THE LOFTY SEER 

" Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your 
God. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led 
forth with peace: 

The mountains and hills shall break forth before 
you into singing, and all the trees of the field 
shall clap their hands. 



192 5obn /ifcurraE's Xan&fall 

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, 

and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle 

tree. 

The glory of the Lord shall be made manifest, 

and all flesh shall see it together." 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

11 Hear the ancient promise, hear! 
Banish doubt, ye slaves of fear! 
Love hath treasures vast, untold; 
Rises light, behold, behold! 
Long the travail of the night — 
Now behold the morning light! 
A lleluia ! A lleluia ! ' ' 

VOICE OF THE HOARY PAST AWAKENING AS FROM 
SLEEP 

"What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? 
And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?" 

VOICE OF THE TIMES TO BE REJOICING IN THE 
LIGHT 

"For Thou hast made him but little lower than 
God. 



5og in Ibeaven 193 

And crownest him with glory and honor. 
Thou madest him to have dominion over the 
works of Thy hands ; 
Thou hast put all things under his feet." 

THEN THE SWEET SINGER OF ISRAEL ANSWERING 
THE VOICE OF THE HARP 

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: 
For Sis mercy endureth forever. 
Yea, the burning of His love is a consuming fire 
Which naught may quench. 
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens; 
Praise Him in the heights. 
Praise ye Him, all His angels: 
Praise ye Him, all His hosts. 
Praise ye Him, sun and moon: 
Praise Him, all ye stars of light. 
Praise the Lord from the earth, 
Ye dragons and all deeps : 
Fire and hail; snow and vapors; 
Stormy wind fulfilling His word: 
Mountains, and all hills; 
Fruitful trees, and all cedars: 
Beasts, and all cattle; 
13 



1 94 Jobn fl&urras's XanDfall 

Creeping things, and flying fowl: 

Kings of the earth, and all people; 

Princes, and all judges of the earth: 

Both young men, and maidens; 

Old men, and children: 

Let them praise the name of the Lord : 

For His name alone is excellent; 

His glory is above the earth and heaven." 

THE GREAT APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES SINGETH 

"Love never faileth. 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall 

all be made alive." 

ANSWER THE INNUMERABLE DEAD OF ALL CLIMES 
OF ALL THE AGES CHANTING THIS SONG OF 
TRIUMPH 

11 As we have borne the image of the earthy we 
shall also bear the image of the heavenly." 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

" Though man's warfare long endure, 
Pledged the Cross, the triumph sure. 
Sing the ancient mystery: 



3og in Ibeaven 195 

Love's transcendent gift is free. 
Love's free gift no price may buy ; 
Sing aloud, rejoicing cry! 
A lleluia ! A lleluia ! ' ' 

MURMUR AFAR AS 'l WERE /-. SONG 01 CHILDREN 
DREAMING VOICES 01 COUNTLESS GENERA- 
TIONS SPIRITS JTEl [JNBO 

"If we go forth from God, obedient to His 

in earthly tab* s for a while to dwell, we 

shall return again unto our Father's home." 

VOICES 01 AIB AND EARTH AND SEA J<h|OICING 

"Awake, O North wind; and come thou South; 

Blow upon my garden, that the spices th 

may flow out ! 

Let the sea roar and the fulness thereof: 

Let the fields rejoice and ah that i:; therein. 

Let the floods clap their hand':, 

Let the hills be joyful together!" 

CHORUS OF ANGELS WITHOUT NUMBER 

" Smv, glad heavens, and all therein! 
Love is Lord of Death and Sin. 



196 5obn dfoutcag's OLanDtall 

Tarry not, archangels twain! 
Haste with balm for Earth's long pain I 
Risen Saviour, Thine shall be 
Universal victory! Alleluia! 
A lleluia ! A lleluia ! ' ' 

THROUGH ALL THE HEAVENS MELODIOUS WITH 
PRAISE RISES A MIGHTY P^AN LED BY HIM 
TO WHOM THE VISION CAME ON PATMOS 

"And every creature which is in the heavens, 
and on the earth, and under the earth, and such 
as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard 
I saying: Blessing, and honor, and glory, and 
power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne 
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 
The kingdoms of this world are become the 
kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ ; and He 
shall reign for ever and ever." 

CHANTETH THE ELDER ARCHANGEL PROCEEDING 
ON HIS MISSION 

" His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. 



ffortb from pavilions of Darkness 197 

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and 
through all." 

CHANTETH THE YOUNGER ARCHANGEL 
RESPONDING 

"And hath made of one blood all nations of men 
for to dwell on all the face of the earth. 
God is their Father, though Abraham be ignorant 
of them, and Israel acknowledge them not: the 
Lord is their Father and Redeemer; 
His name is from everlasting." 



While yet the heights were glowing with light of 
the sweet- voiced immortals, 

Darkness and clouds of earth in mountainous 
ranges lay brooding 

All the horizon, slowly up-climbing, obscuring 
the vision. 

Then on sleeping Earth fell rain in soft bene- 
diction — 

Fell on the just and the unjust forgetful of joy 
and of sorrow. 

Forth from pavilions of darkness, in radiant 
silver apparelled, 



198 3obn dfourraE'6 UanDfall 

Glided the moon, unveiled her face and, kissing 

the rain drops, 
Changed them, with magical touch, to jewels 

trembling in mid-air — 
Diamond, amethyst, ruby and sapphire, emerald, 

topaz, 
Showered on evil and good, their largess of in- 
finite treasure! 
Lo, in the night then a wonder! Behold, the 

herald archangels 
Faded from visible form, and, in place of their 

vanishing glory, 
Bent o'er the darkling world a rainbow ! Infinite 

promise 
Glowed in the heavens as slumbering Earth 

'gan to wake from her dreaming. 

On her stupendous axle turned, 

The earth from darkness moves away; 

The candle to the socket burned, 
Is lost amid the light of day. 

Fleeing the night-birds cried: "It is dawn, it is 
dawn," and the shadows 



JBtrtboag of TLove'e iRew Hvangel 



199 



Westward crept as the sun, robed in splendor 

of sea mists, 
Ushered the Day of the Lord, the birthday of 

Love's new evangel. 




OUSHED was the meeting-house which 

Potter had builded at Good Luck, 
Whither from far and near had come at his 

glad invitation 
Husbandmen, seafaring men, and fishermen 

bronzed by the sea wind, 
Aged men and women, youths and maidens and 

children, 
Gathered to hear the stranger their neighbor so 

long had expected. 
There, in the midst, in his high-backed pew, 

surrounded by kinsfolk, 
Waited the aged prophet, in faith heroic and 

dauntless, 
Trusting the Lord had sent a man to sate his 

heart-hunger. 

Awed, in expectation, they looked on the face 
of the preacher, 

200 



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LJUSHED was the meeting-house which 

* Potter had builded at Good Luck, 

.. .Whijthjsr from, far and near, had come ,at his 
" Awed, in expectation, they looked on the face of 

the preacher. 

Silent and wistful gazed, as slowly the travel- 
worn pilgrim A 'A A 

Rose erect in his place, his love-laden hands 

wide out-stretching. ,, . ,. 

Gathered to near tn5 stranger their neighbor so 

long had expected. 
There, in the midst, in his high-backed pew, 

surrounded by kinsfolk, 
Waited the aged prophet, in faith heroic and 

dauntless, 
Trusting the Lord had sent a man to sate his 

heart-hunger. 

Awed, in expectation, they looked on the face 
of the preacher, 

200 



f n potter'6 flfceetfn0=t>ou8e 201 

Silent and wistful gazed, as slowly the trayel- 

worn pilgrim 
Rose erect in his place, his love-laden hands 

wide out-stretching. 
Dim were his eyes with tears and choked his 

voice with emotion, 
As with utterance low, he spake to the people 

assembled: 
"Brethren, to you have I come a homeless man 

and a stranger; 
Weary and tempest-tossed, the Lord hath 

brought me among you. 
Fleeing, like Jonah of old, I sought to escape 

from His presence, 
Sought, 'mid weltering seas or the fastness depth 

of the forest, 
Some far refuge to find from the Voice demand- 
ing my service. 
But while disheartened, I sought to evade the 

command of my Master, 
One among you hath built this house to the 

name of Jehovah, 
Waiting in hope through patient years of long 

disappointment, 



202 3obn /ifturraB's 3LanfcfaU 

Trusting the Lord would here make known 
the truth he had longed for. 

Now in this holy place, made sacred by faith in 

His promise, 
Fairer in His pure sight — though built of the 

trees of the forest- 
Fairer than gilded shrines, resplendent with 

trophies of conquest, 
Here in this home of Love proclaim I the word 

of my Master: 

Faithful is He whom I serve, and none may hope 
to elude Him. 

Whether in crowded mart, or here on the edge 
of the ocean, 

Ever Almighty Love doth follow each wander- 
ing footstep. 

Long have ye dwelt in dread of the pitiless 

wrath of Jehovah, 
Wrath of a despot enthroned who. could reprobate 

for His glory 
Innocent babes unborn and countless myriad 

heathen — 



flfcurrag'a Sermon 203 

Wayward sons or daughters, a lover from maid 

torn asunder, 
Or from her husband's side the wife of his youth 

well beloved, 
Hurled to helpless perdition while saints rejoice 

in their torment — 
Hideous dream of despair, maligning the gospel 

of Jesus, 
Shrouding the earth with gloom and the sun 

with fearsome shadows! 
Long have ye trembled in fear and sought to 

make good your election, 
If ye might haply escape with a remnant from 

doom everlasting. 
Know ye, the Lord hath never decreed this 

terrible bondage, 
Fairer the word of His grace: He sends me to 

bring you good tidings, 
Sends me to bear His word of healing and sweet 

consolation. 
Know ye that God is Love, that all mankind are 

His children, 
Know ye that Love is strong and may not by 

evil be vanquished. 



204 Sobn Abuttal's XanDfall 

Love is the life of the world and moves all its 
mystical forces — 

Infinite Being transfusing and clothing Himself 
in Creation — 

Love murmurs low in the whispering wind and 
cries in the tempest ; 

Moans on the inlet bar and chants through the 
pine-trees yonder. 

Love is Master of all. The thunder and light- 
ning and whirlwind, 

Smiting the terrified earth and upheaving the 
ocean's wild billows, 

Be but the servants of Love, to work His 
mysterious purpose. 

He whom as despot ye served is waiting to wel- 
come His children. 



Labor to grasp the vision that rose in the mind 

of the Maker 
When from the darkness evolving creation He 

summoned earth's millions, 
That He might joy in communion and bliss of 

innumerous offspring — 



/iftunaE's Sermon 205 

Beauty the offspring of Order, Harmony master 
of Chaos! 

Vision sublime, love-crowned : brother to brother 
united, 

Humankind risen to God, and earth the glad 
portal of Heaven, 

Deity one with man, infinite regions before 
him 

Beckon his homeward steps, inviting to bound- 
less attainment — 

Vision majestic, eternal, purpose and goal of 
creation ! 



Fear not the evils of life, brethren, Love is our 
Parent, 

And for the least of His children yearneth 
Almighty Compassion. 

Brethren all are we, and though in our brief 
earthly sojourn 

Evil and sore be our lot, though grief and mis- 
fortune despoil us, 

Yea, though sin assail and bind us in horrible 
bondage, 



206 $obn diburrag's Xanfcfall 

Be not dismayed! Ye sons of the Highest, 

immortal your birthright! 
Hard though life's pilgrimage be, 't is the path-. 

way unto our Sure Home; 
'T is the beginner's school, where the Father is 

teaching His children. 
Be of good heart, O my brethren, Love Almighty 

is Master ! 



Evermore, age by age the Infinite Spirit through 

nature's 
Myriad voices hath striven the whispered mes- 
sage to utter. 
But our dull ears refuse to hear and the sighing 

wind passes. 
Sunrise and sunset glory, the splendor of noon, 

tender starlight, 
Vainly their message rehearse, and the solemn 

chant of the ocean. 
Misunderstood their mystical breathings, the 

mind of the creature 
Pictures vast portents of terror, and gropes in 

shadowy mazes. 



dlburrag's Sermon 207 

Then in the fulness of time the gracious Heart 

of Creation 
Utters the burden of love for His own in articu- 
late numbers — 
Breathes in the voice of the Son of Man the 

Goodness eternal. 
Out from those wistful eyes looks forth the Soul 

of the Unseen; 
Out ffom the infinite depths Love Almighty 

gazes upon us, 
Waiting for wayward man to answer the voice 

of His calling, 
Calling from deep to deep in tones of infinite 

longing ! 

Earnestly follow and cleave unto Him who 

sought us in sorrow, 
That He might make us kings and priests unto 

God and His Father; 
Who through obedience conquered, through 

meekness subduing the nations. 

He, the Long Promised, is Abraham's Seed, in 
whom hath Jehovah 



208 5obn dfcurra£'0 XanDtall, 

Sworn He would surely bless all families, kin- 
dreds, and nations, 
Unto His servant Jacob the covenant also 

confirming — 
Making Him Heir of the world, as also saith the 

apostle. 
Abraham staggered not e'en at this promise, nor 

should ye, my brethren, 
Ye whom the Lord hath set in families, ye and 

your kindred. 
Trust in the Patriarch's Seed, in whom by the 

oath of Jehovah 
All mankind, by the gift of His grace, shall 

partake of the promise; 
Rest in the Lord, my brethren, we all be heirs 

of His goodness. 
And lest this promise, so vast, should stagger the 

faith of the creature, 
Unto the patriarchs made He an oath. Yea, 

Almighty Jehovah 
Sware by Himself His word to fulfil — He could 

swear by no greater ! 

Ye who have found not the peace and happiness 
that your souls pant for; 



Murray's Sermon 209 

Who but few blessings of time and of sense have, 

look upward and forward ! 
Here tribulation awaits you, but patience! to 

you is the promise. 
When the wild storms of life wreck your hopes 

with sore tribulation, 
Think on the promise! When families parted 

be, poverty presses, 
Think- on the promise! And in the last hour, 

when earth is fast fading, 
Rest in the promise of blessing to come, on the 

oath of Jehovah! 

Alas, it is a heavy toll that man hath paid of 

woe! 
But there is One who maketh whole, who light for 

all doth sow. 

The floods are lifting high their voice, the rivers 

chanting flow; 
Mountain and vale with song rejoice — shall I the 

joy forego ? 

Now when the times were fulfilled that the 
Seed upon earth should be dwelling, 

14 



210 3obn /ifeurraE'g ILanSfall 

Filled with compassion for men, for their weak- 
ness, their sin and their sorrow; 

When dark athwart His path loomed the Cross, 
undismayed by its shadow, 

Cried He, made He that promise so pregnant 
with blessing for mankind: 

Unto me, I will draw all men, if I from the earth 
be up-lifted ! 



Into the Heart that was pierced on Calvary 

mankind was crowded; 
As saith the prophet: Behold the Lord maketh 

the earth to be empty ! 
Yea, all mankind, their sin and their shame held 

the heart of the God-man — 
Where, He, between earth and heaven, in agony 

died for our healing. 
Man sought He, man hath He promised to find, 

ere He cease from His labors : 
Man be he never so lowly, unthankful or sunken 

in evil — 
Room had His great heart for all, yea, His word 

hath He given for their ransom. 



dfturraE's Sermon 211 

Ye too be heirs of His promise; for you is He 

patiently waiting, 
Ye and your children's children, to uttermost 

dim generations. 



Clothed with all power in Earth and in Heaven, 

dared He to trust love! — 
Love "this Mighty One chose for our healing. 

Love never f aileth ! 
Shall we not surely trust love, when dealing one 

with another? 
Lover of men is He; withhold not your hearts 

from His keeping. 
He that was dead is risen and liveth forever 

among us, 
Moving, inspiring, communing and leading 

from glory to glory. 
Love incarnate in flesh, humanity's ultimate 

Flower. 
Ever the Sent of God, of every creature the 

Firstborn, 
Leadeth to life everlasting each soul that the 

Lord hath created. 



212 5obn /ifourraE's XanOfall 

Courage, O Heart of Man! lo, Brotherhood's 

banner uplifted, 
Sonship to God thy heritage, fear not, thine is 

the future ! 

Saviour undaunted by powers of evil, almighty 

to save men, 
Longed-for Messiah, Anointed, Emmanuel seen 

of the prophets; 
Son of the Highest, the lowly Companion and 

Brother of sinners, 
Thou shalt deliver the world from its bondage 

to sin and its sorrow! 

Life-Giver, Light of the World, Redeemer and 

Guide of the Ages, 
None from Thy flock shall be lost when at last 

Thou shalt rest from Thy labors. 
Yoke-fellow Thou of the weak, uplifting the 

burden that crushes, 
Showing to grief new joy and rending the 

sepulchre's portal — 
Mighty art Thou whom I serve, World- Saviour, 

triumphant, eternal!" 



Gben Gbes Sang a 1bgmn 213 

Then they all sang a hymn, the preacher leading 
the singing, 

Line by line the words before the singers pro- 
nouncing : 

Creator of the land and sea, 

Our souls in adoration bow 
Before Thy might and majesty 

And supplicate a blessing now. 

Touch Thou our hearts with living fire, 
Almighty Love upon us shine; 

Outpour Thy Spirit and inspire 

Our lives to make them wholly Thine. 

Come dwell with us, Emmanuel, 

The D ay spring s fore gleam let us see; 

Master of death, of sin, of Hell, 

World- Saviour, haste Thy victory! 

Like to the gentle dew that sparkles, rejoicing 

in sunrise, 
Peace they had never known distilled on the 

hearts of his hearers, 



214 $obn flfcurraE's Xan&fall 

While in accents low he led them in prayer to 
their Father. 

Then Thomas Potter embraced John Murray in 

sight of the people, 
Crying: "My prayers are answered this day of 

days of my whole life! " 

Lo, as the people departed, a sailor came running 

and breathless, 
Shouting: "Ahoy, Supercargo, ahoy! the Captain 

is fuming, 
Waiting impatient to sail; for while thou wast 

preaching the wind changed!" 

Through the long after years of wanderings, 

hardship, and sorrow, 
Bearing the message of Infinite Grace, Love's 

fearless Apostle 
Faced revilings and scorn, and the chilling lot 

of the outcast, 
Led by the voice of the Man of Sorrow, whose 

footsteps he followed, 






Gbomas potter IRejofces 215 

Shame despising for greater joy of the Master's 

triumph. 
His were mighty companions twain through the 

long years of travail : 
Ever with aegis wing the archangel Fatherhood 

hovered 
Round his lone path, while Brotherhood's 

light the way illumined. 

Rapt, on his deep-voiced shore, the aged Prophet 

of Good Luck 
Wistful gazed afar at the steps of him he had 

longed for; 
Waited serene the summons divine to loftier 

worship 
Where Love Almighty, for whom he had builded, 

waited his coming; 
Where his pure soul no temple should need, 

lost in love's adoration. 




THESE ALL DIED IN FAITH NOT HAVING RECEIVED 

THE PROMISES BUT HAVING SEEN THEM 

AFAR OFF 

Give glory to the Lord of Hosts, 

Enthroned in light above, 
And glory to the valiant souls 

Who dared proclaim His love; 

Whose faith Almighty Love declared 

Supreme o'er every foe; 
Emmanuel, Victor Absolute 

Of death, of sin, of woe. 



A feeble folk and few they were, 
Who mighty witness bore; 

Our fathers sowed in tears, that we 
Might reap abundant store. 
216 



21 TKflreatb for tribute 



217 



The Church they leavened with new life, 
Whose light is breaking fast; 

That shall illumine sin's long night. 
And heal the world at last I 




JOHN MURRAY COMFORTETH DESPAIR 

"Fond mother, wherefore dost thou grieve; 

Why fall thy tears like rain ? 
So sweet the babe lies on thy breast, 

Thy heart should know no pain. 



"Hath some dark spectre cast his gloom 
Where love's clear light should glow? 

Dost fear for thy children poverty; 
Or hast some deeper woe ? ' ' 



"Kind sir, I fear not poverty, 

Nor ever have we lacked bread; 

There lurks no spectre in my home; 
Nor mourn I for the dead. 



218 



li inareatb foe tribute 219 

11 In earthly love I rest secure; 

Like springtime round me bloom 
My children eight, yet I shuddering wait, 

In dread of eternal doom! 

" They blossom sweeter than the rose; 

They are more than life to me; 
But I dare not expect that they all are elect — 

Oh, the heart-break, the agony! 

"Nor dare I arrogantly think 

His glory 'twould magnify 
All mine to save from the fiery wave, 

Where so many He passeth by. 

"Stranger, I know no rest from fear 

Of my firstborn's piercing cry; 
When moans the night I wake in fright 

For my child, lost eternally!" 

He showed her how the Blessed One 

All humankind would make whole, 

By His pain and loss on the bitter Cross — 
But the iron had pierced her soul ! 



220 5obn dfcurraB's XanDfall 

Then the man of God opened Holy Writ, 

And his eye fell on the page: 
"Lo, the fruit of the womb is His reward; 

Children His heritage.'" 

The mother clasped her babe more close 

And soothed its waking cry, 
With a thrill of delight, as hope's glimmering light 

Awoke in her tear-dimmed eye. 

She conned the Scripture o'er and o'er; 

Her smiles dispelled her tears; 
11 These children mine, Good Lord, are thine — 

Then begone my faithless fears!" 

Again met the mother and man of God, 
When a half score years had fled; 

With rapturous voice did she still rejoice 
That her heart he had comforted. 



IN THE FIRMAMENT OF HIS POWER 

Strong in gravitation s might 

Countless orbs that wheel the void 
Thread their mazy paths of light, 

Lest they, swerving, be destroyed. 
Ruled by love all worlds are swayed, 

From Love's hand they may not fall; 
Be not, anxious soul, dismayed; 

Love is strong to care for all. 

By this power mysterious held, 

Dimmest star, to man unknown, 
Rolls secure, though distance- quelled ; 

Safe with Him who guards His own. 
So the sin- scarred soul, undone, 

Dimmer than the faintest star, 
To destruction may not run; 

Held by Love, though straying far. 

221 



222 3obn /IfourraB'0 XanDfall 

Sprung from God, to God ive tend; 

Love immutable is strong 
All His children to defend 

From the blight of sin and wrong. 
Life immortal is our goal; 

Though sin's death may long endure, 
Life shall triumph in each soul, 

Love Divine sin's hurt shall cure I 




ALL SOULS ARE MINE 

Lay we this erring one to rest 

In the arms of Mother Earth; 

Finished the long and fevered quest — 
A new world gives him birth. 

What unimagined word shall thrill 
The waking, wondering soul; 

What powers of Love unknown shall fill 
The air to make him whole 

We know not, but the word is sure, 
That Christ shall Victor be; 

That sin shall pass, and Love endure 
Through all eternity I 



22.3 



THE LILAC BUSH 



In my hand I hold a spray 
Of lilac sought when early day 
Was fresh with dew, and all the air 
Was redolent of odors fair. 

Winter-long, through storm and cold. 
Peeping buds the spring foretold; 
At my window, undismayed, 
Bid my heart be unafraid. 

As I wrought from day to day 
Looked the buds upon my toil; 
Soothed my spirit, called away 
From life's labor, fret, and moil. 

Now the stem's fair children form 
A cluster, as when bees, a-swarm 
224 



21 XKHreatb tor tribute 225 

For teeming flight, afar would roam 
To found anew a murmuring home. 

Each little blossom in its place 
Found waiting its appointed space; 
The stem a wealth of beauty wreathed, 
As one the spray its fragrance breathed; 

The while each tiny floret lent 
Its meed of perfume and of grace. 
Amid the bloom I hid my face. 
In ecstasy of joy content! 

As all my being fragrance drank. 
Into my soul the vision sank 
Of humankind, the mystery 
Of human solidarity. 

And is each life a life alone; 

Or is our race a cluster fair 

Of bloom that scents heaven's fostering air — 

A swarm for larger mansions flown ? 

And is this cluster that we see 
God's only flower; or may there be, 
Upon Life's wondrous tree so high, 
Infinite blossoms in the sky? 
15 



THE APPLE-TREE 

Housed and clothed and daintily fed, 
What to me are the burdened years 

That into silence long have fled, 

With their turmoil, dust, and forgotten tears 1 

From winter's cold and summer's heat, 

My sheltered life is kept secure; 
Nor storm upon my head may beat, 

Nor grinding hardship I endure. 

Limned on the night-gloom round my bed, 

Behold an ancient apple-tree 
Whose branches arch above my head, 

Fragrant with bloom, and fair to see I 

Anon, by vernal breezes strown, 

The blossoms drifted on the night; 

And, where so late sweet buds had blown, 
Hung coral and gold in clusters bright. 
226 



H lldreatb tor tribute 227 

A wonder of the graffing art, 

Each limb a various apple bore; 
In each the gnarled trunk had part, 

Whose blood outpoured the fertile store. 

I plucked, I ate — my members all 

Waxed light and strong with prowess new; 
I felt the galling fetters fall, 

Freedom before me, beckoning, flew I 

Again I reached a tempting limb, 

Low bending with its luscious load — 

Fled from the world night-shadows dim; 

Light streamed upon man's darkling road! 

Eager the fairest fruit I found 

And, as I ate, Love took my hand 

And, shedding joy ance all around, 
Led to a vast and radiant land 

Where all men were as brothers, where 
As they passed together on the way, 

For the weak the strong did burdens bear 

Toward their waiting home in the realms of 
day. 



228 3obn Murray's 2Latt&fall 

While deep I pondered, wondering, 
A presence stood beside my bed, 

With sun-lit face and folded wing, 

And with voice of thrilling accent said: 

Prize well the fruit of this mighty tree, 
Nurtured with toil of untold years; 

Fed by the Fathers' blood for thee, 

And long time watered by their tears! 




LOVE-LED 

searcher of the maze of thought, 

Whose tangled systems intertwine, 

Behold the touchstone Christ hath wrought, 
The talisman of Love Divine! 

The sun overwhelms our feeble fires, 

Dispelling fear and gloom of night; 

So Love the vexed soul inspires 

To grasp the truth, with clearer sight. 

The simple seeker after God, 

With Love to lead as Polar Star, 

Shall traverse fields divine untrod 

By seer and sage more learned far. 

Intuitive the heart perceives 

The deep foundations God hath laid; 
The Love-led soul Heaven's truth receives, 

Where tangled systems are dismayed. 
229 



RESURGAT 

Sleep, Potter, sleep! 

Love will keep 

Thy memory green. 

For we have seen 

In larger measure that thou longedst for, 

As through the opening heavens' ampler door, 

On us the light hath streamed 

Which unto thee so precious seemed. 



Man of Faith, sleep well! 
That thou so long ago didst wait so patiently, 
Urging thy plea for all humanity, 
The Church of Christ now gladdens, as the light 
Breaks slowly through the shadows of the past 
Upon her eyes at last! at last! 
230 



H Wteatb tor tribute 231 

The while, with face irradiate, she greets the rising 

sun — ■ 
The day supreme for man begun, 
When he shall see his Father's face, 
And brotherhood transform the race — 
While joy abounds where long hath brooded night. 

Lone watcher for the light, sleep well I 

The coming years shall tell 

Thy simple story : 

How thy purpose never altered, 

How thy courage never faltered 

How, the Spirit's whisper heeding, 

Thou, obedient to His leading, 

Didst await the coming glory ; 

How the light 

Burst upon thy sight ! 

How thou didst rejoice 

When at last a voice, 

Sent of God, 

That heralded the Morning Star, 

Rising all the world to lighten, 

Rising man's dark lot to brighten, 

Love Divine proclaimed, as Master — 



232 3obn dfturraB's XanDfall 

Love, overflowing wider, faster, 

Like a tide triumphant, pouring in 

Upon the world, to wash away its sin; 

Surging into every sea and gulf and bay with 

mighty sweep, 
Filling each thirsty pool and inlet, making shallows 

deep, 
Sea-weed and marsh-grass, brake and eager sedge 
Full drinking at the bountiful water's edge — 
Love Almighty unconditioned, free, 
Life imparting to the famished soul, 
Life imparting to the mighty whole, 
Leading man to his high destiny I 

Prophet of light, sleep well ! 

Thy spirit shall not sleep, 

But, onward marching, keep 

Our souls a-flame, 

And to thy name 

Shall love's soft requiem swell 

Above the sod 

Where lies this patient seeker after God. 

If thou couldst build a house for Him whose light 



H Mreatb tor tribute 233 

Shone dimly on thy sight, 

Cheering thy lonely path with radiance from afar, 

Shall not we, whose eyes behold the Morning Star 

Risen in fuller splendor, 

Flooding earth with foregleams of the coming day, 

Nobler temples build 

And wider service render, 

Till this great land and every land be filled 

With truth's pure light, 'neath the World-Saviour' s 

sway ; 
The long, long night of anguish flee away, 
And earth look forward to a heavenly bourne 
Where dwells immortal Joy, where Grief forgets 

to mourn; 
Where Truth, transfigured in our risen Lord, 
Shall make us free, rejoicing in the Word! 




H 13 89 i 



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